- Botanical name: Astelia chathamica
- Common name: Silver spear
- Family: Asteliaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Evergreen
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
- Prefers rich soil
Silver spear, Astelia chathamica, is a clump-forming perennial grown for its dramatic silver foliage. The leaves are spear-shaped, similar to those of phormiums, and are complemented by long stalks of pale green flowers in summer, followed by orange berries in autumn. It makes a good architectural plant and is ideal for growing in a mixed herbaceous border or as a focal point in its own right. Grow alongside purple-leaved plants such as Phormium ‘Bronze Baby’.
For best results grow Astelia chathamica in a sheltered spot in moist but well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Being half-hardy, its leaves may be damaged by frost, and it may need winter protection in northern regions.
How to grow Astelia chathamica
-
Plant size
1.5m height
100cm spread
-
Aspect
East facing, south facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade, partial shade
- Hardiness: Frost hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do not Sow in March |
A
Do not Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do Sow in October |
N
Do Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Fruits | ||||||||||||
| Fruits |
J
Plant does not fruit in January |
F
Plant does not fruit in February |
M
Plant does not fruit in March |
A
Plant does not fruit in April |
M
Plant does not fruit in May |
J
Plant does not fruit in June |
J
Plant does not fruit in July |
A
Plant does not fruit in August |
S
Plant does fruit in September |
O
Plant does fruit in October |
N
Plant does fruit in November |
D
Plant does not fruit in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do not Collect seeds in August |
S
Do not Collect seeds in September |
O
Do Collect seeds in October |
N
Do Collect seeds in November |
D
Do not Collect seeds in December |
Astelia chathamica and wildlife
Astelia chathamica has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Astelia chathamica poisonous?
Astelia chathamica has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Astelia chathamica
