This small shrub has hairy slender spreading woody branches and forms a compact rounded habit. It has small hairy grey-green wedge-shaped lobed leaves and the bright mauve daisy-like flowers have a yellow centre and appear from winter to summer.

Hardiness zones 8 to 9

Olearia astrolobais naturally found in Australia growing in east Gippsland in Victoria and is restricted to Marble Gully at the headwaters of the Tambo River appearing on north facing slopes in shrubland at an altitude up to 600m (1,968 ft). It is rare in its native habitat and is regarded as vulnerable and the single population has around 1,000 plants.

It prefers a well drained moderately fertile sandy-stony soil that is derived from a limestone / marble base and grows in an open to exposed sunny position and is drought, fire and frost tolerant.

The Marble Daisy Bush is grown for its spreading habit and its flowers. It is planted in small or native gardens as a ground cover or edging plant. It is also planted in rockeries and planter boxes as a spill-over or used in bushland settings. It is suitable for coastal and low-mountain regions and establishes in 2-3 years. ID 2631

Note:
This plant is not commonly cultivated and may be difficult to obtain requiring a specialist nursery.

In its native habitat the plant is under threat from inappropriate fire regimes, weed invasion, grazing and marble mining.

Olearia(o-lee-AH-ree-a) astroloba(ass-TROH-low-buh)

Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)     
(Compositae)
Sunflower Family