Maybe one of the "dusty millers" (Senecio)? Hard to tell in the dried state.

I'm sorry about that, trying to bring it back to life! (fingers crossed) but after looking the flower buds, they seem right for a dusty milller, can always wait until its in better condition and try again for a photo. Thank you for the help.

I was thinking of the barbed wire plant Calocephalus. but there are several shrubs with that common name. So look up Calocephalus and see what you think.

Oops! Sorry, Catty! I thought it was just a piece of a plant, not a transplant.

It's a Calocephalus brownii or cushion Bush, thanks so much for the help :) it's spot on and now I have some tips for looking after it.