Spyridium parvifolium
Australian dusty miller
Overview
Spyridium parvifolium is an evergreen shrub growing 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall and 3-6.5 feet (1-2 m) wide, with an upright, often open form and stems clothed in rusty hairs. The small obovate to oval leaves are 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, dull green above and paler and hairy beneath, with a crinkled surface. Tiny white to cream flowers gather in dense clusters at the stem tips, ringed by a rosette of white woolly floral leaves that make the heads stand out in late winter and spring. The floral display fades to brown as the heads age. Native to southeastern Australia, it grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland, and rocky hillsides on a range of soils. It tolerates dry conditions, frost, and poor soils once established, but it can be short-lived and may become leggy with age. Light, dappled positions and free-draining ground suit it.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, including Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and South Australia, where it grows in dry forest, woodland, and rocky hillsides on sandy, loamy, and gravelly soils.Suggested Uses
Suited to native gardens, woodland edges, and rockeries on free-draining soils, and used in habitat plantings on its native ground. Its flower clusters draw native bees and other insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 6'6"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to creamFoliage Description
dull green with pale undersideGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 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