Astelia banksii

Wharawhara

Astelia banksia, commonly known as Wharawhara is an impressive NZ native grown for its silvery-grey foliage. The colourful leaves are strap-like and held with a graceful arch. It grows as a clump to about 1.2 m tall and the same wide and grows naturally in tough environments such as coastal cliffs and coastal forest. This herbaceous perennial will, however, grow best when planted in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It tolerates drought, wind, coastal environments, moderate frost, and most soils, barring extreme wet. Wharawhara is an ideal plant for coastal gardens, including in borders, maintaining in a container, or for adding texture and interest to a mixed planting. It provides a striking display whether grown individually or in groups and is well suited to being mass planted either as a groundcover or on a bank.