Astelia
A striking clumping, silver-leaved perennial that works as a specimen or mass planting in both sun and part shade. Tolerates coastal conditions well. Flowers are small and easily missed among the strappy foliage, so no reliable flowering window is listed here - grown mainly for its architectural silver-green form.
- Sun
- partial sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 80cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 1.2m
- Attracts wildlife
- Native geckos
- Evergreen
- Yes
- Common pests
- Mealybug
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-November.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentFirst few months
- Water regularly while the clump establishes, this species has moderate ongoing water needs
- Both full sun and part shade work, giving flexibility in where it's planted
Early growthFirst 1-2 years
- Check the base of leaves for mealybug, which can hide in the tight clumping foliage
- Strappy silver foliage takes a season or two to bulk out into its full architectural form
Maturity
- Tolerates coastal conditions well once established, needing little ongoing care
- Keep checking for mealybug in the dense centre of mature clumps
- Divide congested clumps if they outgrow their space
- The tight, sheltered gaps between the strappy leaf bases make good shelter for native geckos, so avoid disturbing established clumps unnecessarily