Olearia argophylla

Olearia argopylla is an open to dense, medium to tall shrub or small tree (3-15m x 2-6m).[4][5][6] Its bark is grey, fissured to ribbony, flaky and its branchlets covered in dense silvery hairs.[6][7] It has large, alternate, ovate to broadly elliptic,[7] shiny dark-green leaves with a silvery underside 6–15 cm long x 2–7 cm wide, often (but not always) with slightly serrated margins[6][5] and roughly 25mm petiole.[7] It has many pseudanthium 12-27mm in diameter, with 3-8 white ray florets and 3-8 yellow disc florets[7] arranged in large terminal bunches.[5][6] Flowers mainly between September–April.[5][7][8]

Botanical specimen from 1806[9]

The first occurrence of Olearia argophylla was published in Flora Australiensis vol. 3.[10] There are records, however, of earlier discovery of the plant under the synonym Eurybia argophylla in the French Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles Edn. 2, 37: 487 which dates back to 1825,[11][12][13] and even earlier in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen 2(20-21) under the synonym Aster argophyllus (1806).[11][14][15][16][17]

Olearia argophylla grows commonly on cool moist sheltered slopes and in fern gullies, mostly in taller eucalypt forests,[18][19] and is found widespread across Victoria (Australia), Tasmania and Eastern New South Wales.[20][21][10][6]

Olearia argophylla can be propagated from seed, or sometimes from cuttings.[20][22] It may be suitable as a screen or windbreak plant under established trees.[6][23] Prefers moist well drained soils[5][19] that are neutral or slightly acidic.[20][24] It prefers partial to full shade[5][19][20] and is frost tolerant.[5][20][24]