Crazy About – Phylica pubescens

Crazy About – Phylica pubescens

Showy, golden feathery, flattened bracts, hiding small whitish flowers at the base, bloom from fall through late winter.  Evergreen dense shrub with upright woody branching grows 5-6 ft with an equal spread.  A mass of upright growing, feather duster-like stems bear slender horizontal leaves which are covered in silvery-white hairs. Small, hard, capsule-like fruit follow the flowers and turn green to brown when ripe and split open to reveal the dark brown seed.  The shrub is best positioned in the garden to catch early morning or late afternoon sun rays, which can make the feather bracts appear to glow.  Excellent as a specimen or accent, in drought tolerant, Mediterranean and meadow gardens and containers.  It is prized In floral arrangements.   

Plant in full sun in well-draining, acidic, sandy, loamy soil, allowing good air circulation.   It is drought tolerant once established (after 1+ years).  Lightly prune back in late spring to maintain a compact shape.  They tend to get woody and less productive after about five years.  Collect seed so that new plants can be set out periodically when they begin to fail.  Native to South Africa. 

Thanks San Marcos Growers!