Milford Helichrysum

A choice alpine from the Drakensberg mountains, this mat-forming evergreen perennial is prized by UK rock garden enthusiasts for its striking silvery foliage. The plant forms tight, low cushions of small, densely felted silver-grey leaves that provide year-round interest and excellent drought tolerance. In late spring and early summer, it produces papery, silvery-white daisy-like flowers with distinctive crimson-pink undersides to the outer bracts, which open in the sun and close in dull weather. It is perfectly hardy (H4) but requires exceptional drainage to survive wet UK winters; it is most successful when grown in a raised scree bed, a trough, or an alpine house. The silver foliage acts as a wonderful foil for darker grit top-dressings. It thrives in a position of full sun and requires very lean, gritty soil to maintain its compact, tufted habit and prevent the foliage from rotting in humid conditions.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Gritty, sharply drained neutral to acid soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.