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Astelia chathamica

Also Known As

Astelia chathamica 'Silver Spear'
Astelia nervosa v. chathamica
Mountain Astelia
Silver Spear

Plant type

perennial, grass / grass like

size

H: 3'-5'
W: 3"-3'

planting zones

8b-11

More Options

Astelia chathamica plant details

Astelia chathamica is an evergreen perennial grass (or grassy in appearance) with blue and green foliage. In spring and summer cream flowers emerge. Features glaucous and grassy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - low water. Does well in average, gritty, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Astelia chathamica

Plant type: perennial grass (or grassy in appearance)
Plant family: asteliaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 3 IN - 3 FT - wide, 3 FT - 5 FT - tall
Flowers: cream blooms in spring and summer
Uses: border plant, container plant, tropical-looking, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Astelia chathamica

USDA Zones: 8b - 11
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, seaside / salt and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, gritty, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

‘Silver Spear’ is a selection from the endangered Chatham Island astelia, endemic to these subantarctic islands near New Zealand. It's an extremely ornamental plant with flax-like leaves sporting an amazing satin-silver-metalic sheen! Offers drama in spades. So very close to being hardy here but not quite. It has taken minus 10 Celsius in our unheated greenhouse but can't freezing combined with rain and wind. Best kept above zero and on the dry side. Worth every effort.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

From the perpetually cool Chatham Islands this plant could be expected to be as heat tolerant as an ice block but given constantly moist soil and and a sheltered but not too shady site it can make an impressive clump of keeled, silver, sword-like leaves. Alternatively you can admire it's rigid metallic form in a pot, preferably wildly glazed for a space age look. Inconsequential flowers borne amongst the foliage are reputably followed by bright red fruit, though I've yet to see them. Slow growing so best left undisturbed until your thirst for more demands division.

By: Zephs

The largest of a beautiful group of agave/hypoxiodes (phormioides?) ... whatever ... with dazzlingly silver rosettes, this one making an offsetting clump from 3-5' high and wide with 3-4" wide leaves. The stunning silver effect is best, for us, in light shade. We keep our specimens in single rosettes as they are most striking, giving away the offsets (or selling them at extraordinarily high prices...But for you...) Love well-drained soil, though certainly don't mind being continually moist. Not fond of prolonged drought. Avoid excessive summer heat. One of the best and most striking container specimens. This species, frost hardy to the upper teens °F, upper USDA zone 8, recovering from 10 to 12 °F. If those temperatures are expected, at least go out and throw a tarp over it. It's ok, all of us have been seen in our bathrobes doing the same thing.

By: Cistus Nursery

Fountain-like clump of silvery swords to 3'. This plant from the remote Chatham Islands somewhat resembles Phormium (New Zealand Flax) but with striking silver coloration! A moderate grower, it may reach 3' tall and a little wider over time in sun or part shade. Excellent combined either with fine textured green leafy things, or with succulents and bromeliads in a dry bed, or with anything of contrasting color. In the Pacific Northwest, it's certainly much better off in a sheltered spot - if it's really happy, well established, and on very well draining, gritty soil, it can endure 10 °F; however, I recommend protecting it below 2 °F if not all of those factors are met.

By: The Desert Northwest

Garden photo gallery of Astelia chathamica

Photo of Astelia chathamica foliage, form by plant lust

By: plant lust

By: Danger Garden

By: Cistus Nursery

Gardening facts about Astelia chathamica plant

How to Grow Astelia chathamica

Sun Exposure
- sun - mostly shade
Water Needs
- even moisture - low
Soil Needs
- average
- well-drained
- rich
- gritty
Special Situation
- seaside / salt tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant

Features

Foliage Color
- green
- blue
Flower Color
- cream
Wildlife
- deer resistant
- rabbit resistant
Flower Season
- summer
- spring
Foliage Season
- evergreen
Texture
- glaucous
- grassy

Landscape groups by tags

See other plant types of Astelia for your garden

Astelia nivicola 'Red Gem'

Plant Type

Perennial, Grass / Grass Like

Zones

8a-10b

Size

Height: 12"-18"

Width: 18"-24"

mostly sun - mostly shade
even moisture - regular

Photo of Astelia nivicola 'Red Gem' foliage by Karl Gercens III

View Plant

Astelia 'Silver Shadow' PP22195

aka Astelia (chathamica x nervosa) 'Silver Shadow', Astelia chathamica 'Silver Shadow', Astelia x 'Silver Shaddow', Silver Shadow Chatham Island Astelia