Astelia chathamica ‘Silver Spear’
‘Silver Spear’ is a selection from the endangered Chatham Island astelia, endemic to these subantarctic islands near New Zealand. It’s an extremely ornamental plant with flax-like leaves sporting an amazing satin-silver-metalic sheen! Offers drama in spades. So very close to being hardy here but not quite. It has taken minus 10 Celsius in our unheated greenhouse but can’t freezing combined with rain and wind. Best kept above zero and on the dry side. Worth every effort.
Common Name: Chatham Island Astelia
Family: Asteliaceae (The Astelia Family)
Zone Hardiness: 9-10
Light: Full Sun Part Sun
Height: 4-6'
Width: 3-5'
Primary Bloom Colour: Yellow
Secondary Bloom Colour:
Class: Evergreen
Type: Tender
Bloom Time: Summer
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: AGM
Geographical Origin: