Adenanthos Sericeus 'Silver Silk'

Silver Woolly Bush / Woolly Bush

Botanical Name: Adenanthos Sericeus 'Silver Silk'
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: South-west Western Australia (Albany coast)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub (can be lightly clipped as an informal screen)

Overview

‘Silver Silk’ is a selected woollybush with exceptionally soft, silvery blue-green foliage that gives year-round contrast and a coastal, contemporary look. Small red to orange-red flowers appear mainly spring to summer (subtle but nectar-rich). Tough, wind- and salt-tolerant, it thrives in free-draining soils and low-water gardens.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 2-3 m H x 1.5-2.5 m W (keep smaller with light clipping)
• Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Very fine, feathery, woolly leaves; luminous silver-blue effect; tips can bronze on new growth
• Flowers: Small red/orange-red tubular heads, mainly spring–summer (not showy)
• Seasonal Interest: Silver foliage all year; spring–summer nectar bloom
• Wildlife Value: Nectar for birds and pollinators
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; front-line coastal & wind-tolerant; light frost
• Planting Density: Informal privacy screen: 1–1.5 m apart; Mass/border: 1.5–2.5 m apart; Specimen: 3–4 m from the next large shrub/tree
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic / pet-friendly (ingestion of any plant matter may cause mild tummy upset)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Prefers free-draining sandy/loamy soils; lime/alkaline tolerant; avoid waterlogging and high-phosphorus fertilisers
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: low water—deep soak every 3–4 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); rarely in winter unless dry
• Maintenance: Tip-prune lightly after flowering to keep dense; mulch in spring; use low-P native fertiliser sparingly
• Lifespan: 10–20+ years in free-draining, low-humidity sites
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA, including front-line coastal
• Soil pH: Neutral (adaptable Acidic–Alkaline, lime tolerant)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Coastal windbreak/screen
• Mass plant for silver texture and low-water designs
• Feature against darker evergreens
• Banks/retaining walls and sandy slopes
• Modern native plantings (not a tight clipped hedge)

Why You Will Love It

Feathery silver foliage you’ll want to touch, with true coastal and drought toughness—a striking, low-maintenance screen or feature tailor-made for SA conditions.