Gardening tips: How to grow daisies in South East Queensland

From simple chains woven into cheerful crowns or adorning sweet bouquets at a wedding, the humble daisy has delighted gardeners and flower lovers of all ages throughout the decades. Embraced by many cultures for their positive meanings including love and affection, innocence, purity, loyalty, new beginnings and hope, they became a symbol of peace and harmony in the flower power movement of the 1960s and 70s.

Today there are more than 20,000 daisy species worldwide and they are a popular choice in cottage and coastal gardens, flower meadows, as garden borders and in pots. In simple terms, a daisy flower has a central disc of small flowers surrounded by larger, showy petals.

Most daisies prefer a sunny position and of course many varieties grow well in our climate. These are my favourites…

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum superbum) is the most iconic of the daisy family with its classic white petals and bright yellow centre, loving a full sun position and regular deadheading (removal of finished blooms). A tough perennial, it tolerates most well-draining soils.

Everlasting Daisy (Bracteantha bracteata) is an Australian native with distinct paper-like petals. Perfect for dried flower arrangements and a symbol of longevity, it’s low maintenance and drought tolerant once established.

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) native to South Africa and often referred to as the African Daisy, it’s one of Australia’s most popular cut flowers. With vibrant blooms in an array of colours, new varieties repeat flowering and thriving in warmer climates, it’s a lovely addition to a flower garden.

Seaside Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus) is such a sweet, low-growing perennial ground cover, popular in coastal gardens. Producing an abundance of small blooms in white and pink, it’s very attractive to butterflies and bees.

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) also known as Purple Coneflower, it has become more accessible in nurseries in recent years. Known for its medicinal properties, it’s most commonly used in herbal remedies to boost the immune system. Loved by the pollinators (bees, birds & butterflies) it’s also a striking cut flower.

Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta) commonly known as Black-eyed Susan, it produces big bold sunshiny blooms that can be mistaken for sunflowers. Yellow or orange petals surround a dark central cone, adding a pop of colour to a full sun garden bed. Great for cut flowers and garden borders.

Top Tips: 

• Deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms

• Grow in a full sun position with around six hours direct sunlight per day

• Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) is the variety traditionally used make daisy chains, but is regarded as a weed in Australia

• Enjoy indoors as a cut flower or tuck one behind your ear when gardening!

Happy gardening!