Euryops pectinatus

Family: Asteraceae

Common names: woolly resin bush, golden euryops, golden daisy bush (Eng.),

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This is a colourful, easily grown shrub from the winter rainfall region.

Description

Euryops pectinatus is a shrub up to 1.5 m in height and has distinctive soft, grey-green foliage. The leaves are 40-100mm long and are toothed in a fern-like manner. Bright yellow daisy flowers are borne nearly all year round with the main display in spring.

This plant is an excellent garden subject and has been available in nurseries for many years. It is fast-growing and flowers freely, provided it is planted in a full sun position. It is completely frost-hardy and as such is ideal for the Highveld garden. It makes an excellent shrub border or mixed perennial backdrop.

Distribution and habitat

In its natural habitat, this attractive plant may be found on rocky, sandstone slopes in the Western Cape (from Gifberg to the Cape Peninsula). It is endemic to this region (i.e. it occurs naturally nowhere else in the world).

Derivation of name and historical aspects

The genus name Euryops is derived from the Greek eurys, meaning ‘large’ and ops, meaning ‘eye’, referring to the showy flowers. The species name pectinatus, is from Latin meaning ‘pectinate’, or with narrow divisions like a comb, referring to the divided leaves.

There are 96 other species of Euryops that occur through southern and tropical Africa as well as in Saudi Arabia. Many of these make excellent garden subjects.

Growing Euryops pectinatus

Euryops pectinatus requires a moderate amount of water and must be watered during the winter monthsin summer rainfall regions. Cut off dead flowerheads after flowering and prune the bush back lightly. The bushes respond well to pruning and may be cut back hard every few years. They may be propagated from seed or by cuttings which strike easily when placed in washed river sand and kept moist.

In the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden a bank of the golden euryops may be seen near the restaurant.