Plecostachys serpyllifolia (Helichrysum microphyllum)

For many years when I lived in the UK I grew a lovely little plant that I
knew as Helichrysum microphyllum. It was a useful silver leafed plant that
was good as ground cover in summer bedding and especially good for hanging
baskets with its trailing silver stems.  I had no reason to doubt the name
as to my gardener's eye it looked just like a smaller version of Helichrysum
petiolare. Indeed now that I have H. microphyllum planted in my garden in
the Algarve with the long hot summers it grows and flowers well, and the
flowers resemble those of  H. petiolare which also flowers and grows
prolifically. I find H. petiolare too large as one plant has formed a huge
mound 5 ft or more high and round despite being pruned regularly. One plant
of H. microphyllum has decided to climb through a Trachelospermum
jasminoides planted against a wall and is now about 3 ft high and looks
rather good.

In an idle moment when I  looked the plant up in the RHS Plant Finder
1999-2000 I was amazed to find the entry 'Helichrysum microphyllum see
Plecostachys serpyllifolia'.

Does anyone know anything about the genus Plecostachys, as I can find no
mention of it in any of my books? Have the taxonomists been at work?

Does it also come from South Africa as H. petiolare does?

Graham, enjoying a warm spring in the Algarve!
----  Graham Payne  ----  dpsgkp@mail.telepac.pt  ----
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