Astelia chathamanica

Botanical Name: Astelia chathamanica
Common Name: silver spear
Family Name: Asteliaceae
Distribution/Origin: NZ

Foliage: Evergreen, Bold recurving leaves which are a pale green above and silvery-white below and form in a large upright rosette,

Form: Mounding, Clumping
Size: Height: 1.2 - 1.8m/Spread: 1.2 - 1.8m
Spacing: 60-90cm/90-120cm

Soil: Rich, Well-drained
Moisture: Moderate
Sun: Full sun, Partial sun
Exposure: Light shade, Partial shade, Full shade

Notes: Drought tolerant, An evergreen perennial that comes from the Chatham Islands, located over 400 nautical miles east of the North and South Island of New Zealand. Rarely flowers and the male and female flowers are on separate plants. Neither are showy and are usually down in the foliage however the orange-red fruit of female plants are noted as attractive - our large plants' inflorescences were too deep in the foliage for the fruit to be noticed.  It is endangered in its native habitat. The genus name comes from combining the Greek words 'a' meaning "without" and 'stele' meaning a "trunk" or "pillar" in reference to these plants not forming a stem or trunk.