I don't have photos of my plant - I saw this plant and the flowers and stem look exactly like my plant did so I took a photo to try and find out what it was - however without seeing the seed show the photo might not be my plant - just very similar - sorry but it's the only way I can show what I'm talking about - I tried posting without photos and got no response. The main thing is it had flower show very like the photos followed by a fluffy seed show like a sea(salt) myrtle and the flowers had a strong scent that we thought was like coconut. Have spent hours trying to find it online and have come to the conclusion it must be some strange crossbreed so the suggestions I'm getting here are great - I can research crosses even if it's not exactly what is suggested.
There seem to be so many plants with similar flower clusters but very few with profuse fluffy seeds - - think the seeds are the key to identification - they used to bunch up on the ground and blow like mini tumbleweeds or stick to my jumper !
It could be Olearia furfuracea, that has fluffy seed heads. Or Olearia monroi, that has the coconut scent as well, nut the leaves of that seem to be more serrated.
Thank you Potsandpansies - we are definitely getting close - the fluffy seeds look right on these olarias and the coconut scent is good - the only difference is that my plant flowers werent quite so daisey like
I have had a reply on another site that looks like it could be my plant.
Olearia avicenniaefolia
The Olearia avicenniaefolia flower and fluffy seeds look right and the leaves get more waxy with age (mine was20 years old). Other Olearias have been described as having coconut scent so I think if it not avicenniaefolia then it was a cross with this.
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Was yours an evergreen Tony?
That would narrow it down a bit
In the sticks near Peterborough
Olearia macrodonta? https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/11760/New-Zealand-holly/Details
Thank you Potsandpansies - we are definitely getting close - the fluffy seeds look right on these olarias and the coconut scent is good - the only difference is that my plant flowers werent quite so daisey like
I have had a reply on another site that looks like it could be my plant.
Olearia avicenniaefolia
The Olearia avicenniaefolia flower and fluffy seeds look right and the leaves get more waxy with age (mine was20 years old). Other Olearias have been described as having coconut scent so I think if it not avicenniaefolia then it was a cross with this.