Olearia traversii aka Ake Ake

Olearia traversii is a shrub from New Zealand. It is evergreen, so it keeps its leaves all year. It belongs to Asteraceae, the daisy family. Records place it in forests on Chatham Island. Plants can grow to about 33 feet [10 metres] tall. The source says it grows at a medium rate.

The British growing account says it blooms in June. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects move pollen between the flowers. Plants bloom best after a long, hot summer. The source does not say how fruit or seeds look. Nor does it give traits of leaves, stems, or bark. Its leaves make a useful screen all year round.

Grow this shrub in full sun, not in shade. It needs soil that drains well but holds some moisture. Soil that is neither rich nor poor suits it. It accepts sand, loam, and clay if they drain well. It does best in light loam or peaty soil. It thrives on chalk and copes with very alkaline ground. Slightly acid soil and neutral soil suit it too. The source lists USDA hardiness zones 8–11. But results in Britain show a need for care. Plants have lived outdoors at Kew but failed elsewhere inland. Plants near the coast have lived as far north as Scarborough.

This shrub copes with open sites near the sea. It makes a hedge that breaks the wind. It can take hard cuts, even into old wood. These cuts can help it put out fresh growth. The source says to halve new growth each year. Do this for the first three years. One planting on an exposed site in Cornwall reached 6.6 feet [2 metres] within six years. This record suggests it can grow well as a hedge. But the site will affect how well it grows. Its best-supported garden use is shelter near the sea.

You can raise new plants from seeds or cuttings. Sow seed on the surface in a greenhouse in early spring. Do not let the seed compost dry out. Keep young seedlings in a greenhouse for their first winter. Take half-ripe heel cuttings in July or August. These are partly firm shoots with some older wood attached. Shield rooted cuttings through winter before you plant them out. The source records no uses for food or medicine. It lists no known hazards. This does not prove it is safe for people or pets.