Eriocephalus spp.

Kapokbushes

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Eriocephalus spp. is a genus of about 35 species of aromatic evergreen shrubs in the daisy family, native to southern Africa. Plants form rounded, much-branched bushes 0.3-1.5 m (1-5 ft) tall and wide, with small, grey-green, often needle-like leaves clustered along the stems and covered in dense silvery hairs. The leaves are strongly scented when crushed, and several species are harvested for their essential oils. Small daisy flower heads, white with a dark central disc, open in late autumn and winter, after which the seed heads develop a dense covering of white woolly hairs that gives the genus its common name kapokbush. Species grow in dry fynbos, karoo scrub, and rocky slopes, where the silvery foliage reduces water loss in full sun. The shrubs are short-lived, often 5-8 years, and decline in humid conditions and wet, heavy soil. Cut foliage of species such as E. africanus is used in floristry and herbal preparations.

Native Range

Eriocephalus spp. is native to southern Africa, with most species concentrated in the winter-rainfall regions of the Western and Northern Cape of South Africa and extending into Namibia. Plants grow in fynbos, succulent karoo, and renosterveld on dry, stony ground.

Suggested Uses

Eriocephalus spp. is planted in dry, water-wise, and coastal gardens, in gravel beds, and as a low informal hedge in mild climates. The aromatic silvery foliage and woolly seed heads are cut for floristry. The winter flowers support bees and other insects.

How to Identify

Identify Eriocephalus spp. by its silvery-grey aromatic foliage and the white woolly seed heads that persist on the branches after flowering. Leaves are small and narrow, sometimes clustered on short side shoots, and densely hairy. The daisy heads are small, with a few white ray florets around a dark disc, separating it from non-aromatic grey shrubs of the same habitats.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 5'

Width/Spread1' - 5'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Fall Winter

Flowering occurs mainly in autumn and winter, around April-August in the Southern Hemisphere, when the small white daisy heads open across the canopy. The woolly white seed heads follow and remain conspicuous into spring. In Northern Hemisphere cultivation, bloom shifts to late autumn and winter.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white with dark centre

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky chalk

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Eriocephalus spp. grows in full sun on sharply drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils, including alkaline ground. Established plants tolerate drought and need watering only in prolonged dry spells, with winter rainfall suiting their natural cycle. A soil pH near 6.5-8.0 is tolerated. Plants withstand light frost to about -4 C (25 F) but are damaged by hard freezes and decline in humid summers or wet soil. Lean conditions keep growth dense, while rich soil and overwatering cause open, floppy stems. Plants are short-lived and renewed from cuttings.

Pruning

A light trim after flowering keeps the bush dense and removes spent woolly seed heads. Cutting back by up to a third in early spring restores shape, though plants reshoot poorly from old leafless wood. Hard renovation is seldom successful.