Convolvulus cneorum

Common name: Silverbush

Description: Convolvulus cneorum is a beautiful, compact evergreen shrub grown chiefly for its striking silver-silky foliage and succession of white, funnel-shaped flowers with a soft yellow centre from late spring through to autumn. The foliage alone earns it a place in the border, catching the light with an almost metallic sheen, while the flowers open from attractive pink-flushed buds. It has a naturally neat, mounded habit and holds its form without regular pruning, making it a refined choice for sunny, sheltered spots.

Other benefits: year-round foliage interest, low maintenance, suitable for containers, drought tolerant once established, RHS Award of Garden Merit

Wildlife attraction: bees and hoverflies visit the flowers in summer

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 0.5m x 0.8m

Position: full sun; sheltered from cold, drying winds; excellent against a south- or west-facing wall

Soil pH: neutral to alkaline; well-drained to dry soils; thrives on sandy and chalky ground

Moisture: low; drought tolerant once established; good drainage essential — does not tolerate waterlogged conditions

Winter hardiness: hardy in most UK gardens to approximately -10°C; provide fleece protection in severe winters or in colder, exposed sites