Marguerite Daisy Argyranthemum Care

Marguerite Daisy – Tips For Growing And Taking Care Of Marguerite Daisies

One of the most attractive perennial flowering plants that you can grow in your garden is the Marguerite Daisies. This well known Daisy is part of the Asteraceae family and this is the largest plant family that you will find in this world. It has now over 25,000 species. The binomial name of this Daisy is Argyranthemum Frutescens and the Marguerite Daisy can be grown in a formal setting or a cottage styled garden setup.

Marguerite Daisies are one of the most versatile daisies to grow in your garden. Although daisies close their petals when the sun goes down at night. For our pleasure on a good clear day, they open fully ‘fresh as a daisy’ to the early morning sun. Marguerite Daisies are safe flowers for children to play with and children love to make flower jewellery with them. You can make daisy chain necklaces, a daisy crown and bracelet or for a special affect plait the daisies together to put in your hair. They are an ideal option to be grown in pots and containers or as flower beds around the kids cubby house even against the house. These plants can also be grown in large pots and placed beside entrances, around the swimming pool or rock garden to add attraction to that area. The original large white marguerite daisies will self seed if you don’t deadhead the flowers and leave the flowers to dry on the bush otherwise prune back the flowers in order to make the plant neat and tidy.

More about Marguerite Daisies

These easy to identify daisies can grow to a height of 60 cm to 180 cm tall and wide or can have a compact habit, rich colours or pastels with single or double flowers. Its size depends on the cultivar. With minimal effort, they are attractive garden shrubs that do not need much attention. The biggest advantage of planting daisies in Australia is that they produce a dense covering of flowers in spring season additionally sometimes they even spot flower during the winter season in warm winter climates. The Marguerite daisy has stopped flowering during the heat of summer where I live. The leaves are green in colour, it is easy to tell the difference between each type of marguerite daisy by the leaf, even when they are not in flower. The leaves are an excellent give away, even though they look and appear the same to a novice gardener. If you look closely they all have a different leaf edge and this is how you can distinguish the different varieties especially if you got them mixed up preparing the cuttings. The main attraction is the flowers that are yellow or white or pink in colour. The flowers have a yellow centre that is about 2.5 inches in diameter. The double or single flowers are fragrant and can bloom for longer periods during a year.

How to grow Marguerite Daisy?

The Marguerite Daisies can grow to a height and width of 3 feet and this has to be kept in mind when planting them. These plants prefer to grow in full sun in cool to temperate areas and can tolerate partial sunlight, but not dark growing conditions. The soil needs to be a well-draining one and the plant should not be over watered.

• The Marguerite Daisies can be propagated from stem cuttings most times of the year except winter unless you use bottom heat.
• I take 2 to 4 inches of soft cuttings from the non-flowering shoots.
• Apply the rooting hormone to the base of the stem that would be placed into the hole made in a pot that contains well-draining soil and potting mixture. Place the stem cutting indoors and allow the root to grow. Once the root delves, the plant can be transplanted outdoors.
• You can also grow Marguerite Daisies by sowing the seeds directly to the garden the seeds will shoot up when the soil is warm. The seeds can also be sown indoors. Allow time for the seeds to germinate. It will take about 8 to 14 days. After 6 to 8 weeks of growth, the plant can be transferred to containers or flower beds outside.

Caring for Marguerite Daisies

They are handy plants and very easy to grow and require very less maintenance. All they need is full sunlight and well-draining soil. The plant needs to be watered well till it gets established. They need to be fertilised with a balanced organic fertiliser during the springtime to encourage blooming. Placing organic mulch around the plant will help in preventing the weeds from developing. The spent flowers can be trimmed off from the plant to maintain its shape. They must not be cut back fully to the bare wood. To keep pests like mites, aphids, and thrips away, the Marguerite Daisies can be sprayed with Neem oil to prevent infestation by the pests.