Mountain akeake is a small, bushy shrub or tree that grows up to 6 metres tall[6] and 3 metres wide.[4] It has thin, papery bark[7] and angular branchlets covered in white tomentum.[6] Leaves are oblong-lanceolate in shape.[6] They are dark green in colour with a downy, white underside.[1] Leaf length varies between 5–10 cm long and 3–5 cm wide.[8]
Flowers are clustered and daisy-like with white rays and purple central disks. They emerge between November and February and have a sweet scent.[4][6] Flowers are about 5 centimetres wide and carried in clusters of three to ten.[4] The flowers develop into fluffy seeds.[1]
Taxonomy
It was first described in 1846 by Raoul as Shawia avicenniifolia[9] and transferred to the Olearia genus by Joseph Hooker in 1864.[1][2]
