Bracteantha Dargan
Hill Monarch: Firstly, due to a botanical reshuffle Bracteantha
is the new name for some Helichrysums. Secondly “Dargan Hill Monarch” was
considered to be a cultivar of the old Helichrysum bracteatum. We have
it a good authority that this daisy will be granted species status.
After that taxonomic preamble we will pursue our discussion of this colourful
daisy. “Dargan Hill Monarch” occurs in the McPherson Ranges of
southeastern Queensland. It is a
rounded shrub reaching a height of 80 cm., with a spread of one metre. The
grey woolly leaves contrast with the large golden yellow flower heads. The
flowers are well displayed on long stems. This long flowering daisy would be
at home as a foreground plant in a shrubbery, rockeries and native cottage
gardens. Our son is planting a dozen “Dargan Hill Monarchs” around the
base of a Golden Elm (see image).
Remove spent flower heads to induce dense growth and bounteous blooming. After
a few years the plants do become rather straggly. We always keep a few
juvenile plants in reserve to replace worn-out adult plants. This is not a
problem as “Dargan Hill
Monarchs” propagate easily from cuttings.