The daisies are perhaps the largest group of plants in the world. Worldwide, there are more than 32,000 species with about 100 of these native to Australia.
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As well as these natives, there are 200-300 introduced daisies that have become naturalised. Of these, some are our most noxious and obnoxious weeds such as various thistles. On a positive note, many exotic daisies are widely cultivated garden subjects.
Daisies may be annuals, perennials or shrubs. The majority propagate readily from cuttings.
The large number of native daisies means that there are plenty worthy of cultivation.
Xerochrysum bracteatum has had a number of name changes. Helichrysum bracteatum, a previous name, would be familiar to many gardeners.
Strawflower is the common name and blooms may be used in both fresh and dried flower arrangements.
The original yellow-flowered form is a common roadside plant along the Waterfall Way in the warmer months.
Over the years a number of cultivars have been developed. Dargan Hill Monarch is a one metre tall perennial with grey leaves and lage, yellow flower heads.
Cockatoo is another perennial with a similar height and large cream flower heads with a yellow centre.
Both cultivars have long flowering periods and attract butterflies. These two cultivars could be planted alternately along garden bed borders to give an eye-catching floral display.
Brachyscome multifida, the cut-leaf daisy, is a hardy, ground covering perennial reaching a height of 20 centimetres with a spread of 50 centimetres. The soft, divided leaves are light green.
Massed flowering occurs in spring and summer when plants become covered with mauve-pink flowers. There is a form known as “Break o’ Day” with brighter coloured flowers but is less vigorous than the cut-leaf form.
The cut-leaf daisy is very hardy but may die back in harsh winters. Plants always bounce back when the warmer weather arrives. Light pruning will keep the foliage dense and blooming bounteously.
Rhodanthe anthemoides “Southern Stars” is another ground-covering perennial daisy. Reaching a height of 30 centimetres with a spread approaching one metre, this hardy plant has many slender stems clothed with soft dark green leaves.
In the warmer months, each stem is crowned by a typical white, daisy flower with a yellow centre. Prune the plants after the flowers fade. This will encourage fresh growth and more flowering. The flowers attract butterflies.
Southern Stars is an excellent variety for planting along the borders of garden beds. An eye-catching feature would be created by alternating Southern Stars and the cut-leaf daisy along garden edges.
Ozothamnus diosmifolius has a number of common names including ago sago flower and rice flower. The rice flower is a shrub that will reach a height of two metres.
Flowers appear in winter and spring. They are carried, at the ends of branches, in dense globular clusters. Buds may be pink and they open to small white to pink flowers. What the flowers lack in size they make up for in quantity developing at the end of each stem.
Pruning improves the density and flowering of plants.
The rice flower in grown commercially as a cut flower.
Native daisies have a lot to offer local gardeners. All growth forms are hardy and free flowering.
