Castlepoint Daisy
In Māori tradition, Castlepoint was visited by Kupe after leaving Hawaiki, chasing an octopus that hid in a cave here. The Ngāti Kahungunu tribe had a settlement there, called Rangiwhakaoma (where the sky runs). Castlepoint is one of the most spectacular sites along the Wairarapa coastline. It was given its European name in 1770 when Captain Cook observed the coast from the Endeavour and likened the coastal formations to the battlements of a castle. After driving 2.5 hours from Wellington and a short walk from the carpark, we ascended no more than 100 steps before encountering Brachyglottis compacta. A small, greyish shrub in the Asteraceae family.
The natural population of this daisy is strictly confined to the crumbled uplifted limestone reef and Castle Rock, occurring naturally in no other part of the world. This formation is comprised of 65% calcareous sandstone and grey coquina limestone which is composed almost entirely of the wave-sorted fragments of the shells of mollusks, trilobites, brachiopods, or other invertebrates. Brachyglottis compacta gains it species name from its compact growth habit of around 1m. The top-side of the toothed oval leaves are a dark green with a white underside, the tendency for the wavy leaf margin to upcurve lends a blue-green characteristic to the shrub when viewed from a distance. The flowers are daisy-like with yellow radiating petals borne in clusters or singly in summer. Having made the journey in spring, we arrived too early in its phenology. However, the most spectacular part of viewing this shrub in the wild, is a soft hue change across a simple plant community of two species. In a basin at the foot of Castle Rock, a glossy, dark green sheet of flax (Phormium cookianum) rolls up to be punctuated by soft, glaucous clouds of Brachyglottis and contrastingly huge limestone boulders.
Observing its natural distribution, its preference for full sun and a well-drained position is understandable, as it generally grows in conjunction with ridges and boulders. In gardens, it is tolerant of moderate frost and coastal conditions. Trimming (after flowering) may be needed to maintain a shapely form, where coastal winds are not keeping growth compact. Its relatively easy propagation and forgiving nature make it an attractive garden plant, worth conservation effort.
