Kingdom Plantae Family Asteraceae Genus Olearia Rank Species | Order Asterales Tribe Astereae Scientific name Olearia ilicifolia | |
Similar Olearia macrodonta, Olearia lacunosa, Olearia arborescens, Olearia solandri, Olearia paniculata | ||
Olearia ilicifolia is a shrub or small tree endemic to New Zealand. Common names include Maori-holly, mountain holly, hakeke or hakekeke and New Zealand holly. It is a spreading shrub or small tree of the family Asteraceae, and has largely serrated and undulating grey-green leaves. It is closely related to the sub-alpine Olearia macrodonta, with which it shares the names mountain holly and New Zealand holly, however it is much more common than Olearia macrodonta. It is found in lowland and sub-alpine forests from sea level to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft).
Description
Mountain holly is a much-branching, spreading shrub to small tree that grows 1.5–4.6 metres (4 ft 11 in–15 ft 1 in) tall. Its leaves are 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long, 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) wide, with undulating and coarsely serrated margins, greyish green above. Its flowers are white with yellow centres and grow in large terminal corymbs.