Berkheya purpurea 'Silver Spike'

RHS Plant Profile

purple berkheya 'Silver Spike'

Herbaceous Perennial

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'Silver Spike' is a rosette-forming perennial with spiny, lobed leaves up to 45cm long, with woolly, white undersides. Upright stems to 75cm carry sprays of whiteish-purple, daisy-like flowers in mid-summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Berkheya can be shrubs, or perennials, with spiny, pinnately divided leaves and yellow, purple or or white daisy-like flower-heads in summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Protect from wet winter conditions

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free