It is almost irresistible to lay one’s palm on it although pushing too hard will cause you to draw away rather quickly as the foliage is quite hard and sharp.
Azorella trifurcata grows in Chile, Argentina including Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands.
The low habit enables it to survive in harsh conditions as the dense foliage keeps the soil moist underneath while the wind whistles across the top. Cushion plants such as this can act as nursery plants for other species which seed and grow up through them taking advantage of the protection and moisture they provide.
Not just a pretty ground cover, the plant is used to treat digestive disorders by people of Argentina and Chile. Scientists have found that the essential oil extracted from Azorella has antibacterial and insect-repelling properties.
It is not immediately obvious but this genus is in the carrot family, the characteristic flower umbels being tiny and held on short upright stems. The plant grows to only about 10cm tall making it an ideal evergreen ground cover. It can also be used as a roof plant as it thrives in full sun and once established it will cope with periods of drought.
Azorella trifurcata can be seen growing in several places through the rock garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Robyn Abernethy.
