Leucophyta is a plant genus which is endemic to Australia. The genus was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1818. The sole species in the genus is Leucophyta brownii, also known as cushion bush.
Cushion bush, also known as silver bush (Calocephalus brownii syn. Leucophyta brownii) is a very tough and attractive perennial native to the southern coast of Australia and nearby islands. It’s very popular in pots, borders and larger clumps in the garden, most notably because of its striking silver to white color. Cushion bush does produce small yellow flowers on the tips of its stems, but most gardeners grow the plant for its foliage. The stems grow thick and outward in a shape very much like a tumbleweed, and the soft leaves stay close to the stems. Both stems and leaves are a bright silver, almost white color that reflects light very well and makes for a spectacular contrast against neighboring green plants. Bushes are round and tend to reach between 1 and 3 feet in height and width, though they can reach as much as 4 feet.
