Description
Ozothamnus leptophyllus is a common endemic evergreen shrub found in coastal areas, especially in the mid-dune areas along the coast in association with (but not limited to) Muehlenbeckia astonii, Coprosma acerosa, and Poa cita. It is a bushy shrub with small silver-green leaves that have fine silver hair beneath. The stems are pale in colour. It has an attractive silver-grey appearance when mature, young foliage appearing yellow-green. Flowering in profusion and from July to August with clusters of tiny cream flowers followed by down-covered seed heads. As such, the seeds are dispersed by the wind. Easily established in overgrazed pastures, but also easily controlled by grazing where unwanted.
Ozothamnus leptophyllus is fast-growing, reaching its maximum height of 2 metres in 10–15 years. Tauhinu can readily colonise bare hillsides and pasture, with seeds readily dispersed by the wind. It grows rapidly, acting as a nursery plant for other species. Unless their under storey plants are heavily grazed, tauhinu shrublands are usually overtopped by taller shrubs and trees. Because of this, Tauhinu makes an excellent coastal or dry woodland revegetation plant. It prefers a sunny location and is frost hardy.
For more information about sand dune communities, recommend DOC’s publication Native Plant Communities of the Canterbury Plains.
