Musk daisy-bush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Musk daisy-bush
Olearia argophylla foliage and flowers
Scientific classification
Genus:	Olearia
Species:	argophylla

The Musk Daisy-bush (Olearia argophylla) is a cool flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. People also call it musktree, muskwood, or silvershrub. You can find this plant growing in Australia, especially in New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria. It loves to grow in wet eucalypt forests.

This plant can be a tall bush or even a small tree. Its leaves are big, about 6 to 15 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide. They have rough edges and are bright green on top, but a cool silver-white underneath! The wood from this tree is usually straight. But sometimes, near the bottom, it grows special bumpy parts called 'burls'. These burls have amazing swirly patterns that look like little faces or animals! Woodworkers really love them for their unique beauty.

What the Musk Daisy-bush Looks Like

The Musk Daisy-bush is a medium to tall bush or a small tree. It can grow from 3 to 15 meters high and 2 to 6 meters wide. Its bark is grey and can look cracked or flaky. The smaller branches are covered in soft, silvery hairs.

Its leaves are large and grow one after another along the stem. They are oval-shaped, shiny dark-green on top, and have a silvery underside. They are about 6 to 15 cm long and 2 to 7 cm wide. Sometimes, their edges are slightly jagged.

This plant has many small flowers that grow in big bunches at the ends of its branches. Each flower cluster is about 12 to 27 mm across. They have 3 to 8 white petals (called ray florets) and 3 to 8 yellow centers (called disc florets). The Musk Daisy-bush usually flowers between September and April.

How the Musk Daisy-bush Got Its Name

A botanical specimen of Aster argophyllus from 1806.

The official name Olearia argophylla was first written down in a book called Flora Australiensis (Volume 3). But this plant was actually discovered much earlier!

Records show it was known by other names before. For example, it was called Eurybia argophylla in a French book from 1825. Even earlier, in 1806, it was named Aster argophyllus in a book called Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.

Where the Musk Daisy-bush Grows

The Musk Daisy-bush is very common in cool, moist, and sheltered places. You can often find it in fern gullies or in taller eucalypt forests. It grows widely across Victoria (Australia), Tasmania, and eastern New South Wales.

Growing Your Own Musk Daisy-bush

You can grow the Musk Daisy-bush from seed, or sometimes from cuttings (small pieces of the plant). It can be a good plant to use as a screen or a windbreak, especially under other established trees.

This plant likes soil that is moist and drains well. It prefers soil that is neutral or a little bit acidic. It also likes partial shade or even full shade. The Musk Daisy-bush can handle frost, which means it can survive cold temperatures.

See also

In Spanish: Olearia argophylla para niños