Vivid yellow flowers, textured like straw, open up on bright days.
The plant is transformed into a luminescent waterfall.
As dusk approaches or the day becomes too dull, the flowers close back into tight buds.
The name Helichrysum comes from the very apt Greek words helios meaning sun and chrysos meaning gold; the specific name of this daisy, argyrophyllum refers to the silver foliage.
Individual flowerheads are around 1.5cm in diameter and surrounded by a circle of yellow papery bracts.
The plant is about only 10cm high, but will cover an area of 2m.
It is sometimes called golden guinea everlasting, the flowers successfully drying if picked when very young and hung upside down in a warm dry place.
Native to Eastern Cape of South Africa, this trailing plant is very hardy and drought-tolerant.
The evergreen foliage is silver grey with small spoon-shaped leaves.
It is a perfect plant for well-drained banks and walls, growing quite quickly and able to be trimmed easily to size.
To prune, lift the uppermost foliage out of the way, and cut back the trailing stems from underneath so that when the foliage is lowered again, the shrub looks untouched.
Plants may be dead-headed after flowering to keep them looking neat.
• Robyn Abernethy is the Rock, Water and Alpine Collection Curator at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
