Family Index

Scientific Name

Cassinia aculeata

Family Name

ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE)

Common Name

Dolly Bush

Status

Height

1.0m - 4.0m (100-400cm)

Flowers

Florets 6-12, flower-heads numerous in terminal clusters. Usually whitish but sometimes pale brown or pink especially in the bud stage.

Fruit

Achenes

Form

Much-branched shrub

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Riparian; Wet Eucalypt Forest

Habitat Notes

Widespread and abundant often rapidly colonizing cleared land.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Moist; Rocky; Shady

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Poor; Well-drained

General Notes

Flowers may cause dermatitis in humans. Useful for providing quick low-level shelter (up to 3m) in mixed species windbreaks while slow growing species are established. May provide food for some parrot species. Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Not suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Achenes downy, pappus bristles very slender.each seedhead contains many small seed each with white fluffy attachment.collect seedheads when they turn dry and papery. has short after-ripening period

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Short

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Seed handling involves breaking up seedheads and sieving.

Germination Time

2-3 weeks

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Yes

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

3-4 weeks

Expected Time to Plant Out

6 months

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Take cuttings about 15cm long in summer.