Astelia chathamica ‘Silver Shadow’
Astelia 'Silver Shadow' has metallic-silver leaves that look like metal on bold arching plants.
‘Silver Shadow’ is a hybrid of the endangered Chatham Island Astelia, A. chathamica, endemic to these sub-Antarctic islands near New Zealand and A. nervosa. It’s an extremely ornamental plant with shiny, metallic silvery-green recurved leaves. (No kidding. The leaves look made of real silver!) So very close to being hardy in coastal BC but not quite. It has taken minus 10 Celsius in our unheated greenhouse but can’t take cold in combination with wet. Best kept above zero and on the dry side or up against a sheltered south-facing wall under an overhang. Worth every effort. There is nothing like it for container plantings!
Common Name: Astelia
Family: Asteliaceae (The Astelia Family)
Zone Hardiness: 9-10
Light: Full Sun, Part Sun
Height: 2-4'
Width: 3-5'
Primary Bloom Colour: Yellow
Secondary Bloom Colour:
Foliage Colour: Silver
Class: Evergreen
Type: Tender
Bloom Time:
Soil Moisture: Average, Moist, Dry
Stem Colour:
Fragrance: No
Berries: Orange
Benefits:
Deer Resistant: Unknown
BC Native: No
Native Habitat: Forest floors, cliffs, rock bluffs, lakeshore scarps, stream margins and swamps.
Award:
Geographical Origin:
