Search Utilities Plant Database Search by Plant Name Advanced Search Search by size, origins, color, cultural needs, etc. Website Search Search for any word Site Map Retail Locator Plant Listings PLANT TYPE PLANT GEOGRAPHY PLANT INDEX ALL PLANT LIST PLANT IMAGE INDEX PLANT INTROS SPECIALTY CROPS NEW  2020 PLANTS PRIME LIST   for OCTOBER  Weather Station

Plant Database Search Results > Phylica pubescens   Phylica pubescens - Featherhead     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorns) Origin: South Africa (Africa) Evergreen: Yes Yellow/Chartreuse Foliage: Yes Flower Color: White Bloomtime: Fall/Winter Fragrant Flowers: Yes Synonyms: [P. plumosa, Hort.] Height: 4-5 feet Width: 4-6 feet Exposure: Full Sun Seaside: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F Phylica pubescens (Featherhead) - Phylica pubescens is an attractive dense evergreen shrub to 4 to 5 feet tall with narrow leaves that are about 1½ inch long and are densely covered with golden hairs. The leaves become congested and joined by feather bracts that form showy flattened plumose heads hiding small whitish brow flowers from fall through late winter. The flowers though hidden do have a faint aroma of cinnamon but are secondary to the showy golden flower bracts that catch the sunlight and glow so position this plant in an open space in the garden to catch early morning or late afternoon light. Plant in full sun and irrigate little to occasionally. Tolerates seaside conditions. Hardy to temperatures down to the low 20's° F. This species grows in Cape Town eastwards on dry sandstone and limestone slopes. Because of the showy plumose heads it is often mistakenly listed as Phylica plumosa, a smaller shrub that grows along the west coast north of Cape Town. Phylica pubescens is extensively used in the cut flower trade for filler foliage. We also grow the larger Phylica arborea from the Tristan da Cuhuna Islands.  The information on this page is based on our research that has been conducted on this plant in our nursery library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in the nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Phylica pubescens.     [MORE INFO]