Marguerite Daisy 'Grandaisy Red Improved'

Abundant deep red blooms up to 10cm across for much of the year over fine, upright foliage. A fabulous addition to a patio pot or as a garden filler.

The Grandaisy Marguerite Daisy series takes these valuable plants to the next level. These intergeneric hybrids are from legendary Japanese breeders Suntory and Australia’s Bonza Botanicals. It crosses Argyranthemum (Marguerite Daisies) and Ismelia (Tricolour Chrysanthemum/Daisy) bringing you the best of both; well branched, larger, mounding plants with an increased colour range and blooms twice the size.

These evergreen, erect shrubs grow into nice little mounds of soft, finely dissected, mid green leaves. Marguerite Daisies are well suited to coastal areas, sunny beds and borders as well as in containers. They are impressively both salt and wind tolerant.

Marguerite Daisies were hugely popular decades ago, before falling out of fashion. But with their long flowering period, ease of care and practical disposition, combined with new breeding, there is now a wider variety of colours, shapes and sizes to choose from so they are making a long overdue come back.

Plant Marguerite Daisies in moderately fertile to humus rich soil where they will receive at least six hours of sun a day. It is a good idea to protect young plants from frost while young. The most prolific flowers occur in spring and autumn when the nights are cool and climate permitting, they can flower sporadically for the rest of the year.

Once they are up and flowering, regular dead heading, or picking will promote more blooms. Never prune to dead wood, but a good prune after flowering will help maintain their bushy habit. They are short lived perennials (2-5 years), so you can enjoy good value with a few years of amazing displays with this sort of treatment. Fertilise annually in spring.

If you grow your Argyranthemum in pots, you will need to water regularly over the warmer months to maintain flowering. This is because potting mix is perfectly drained, so dries out quickly. It is also a good idea to add some liquid fertiliser, in spring, these plants work hard so appreciate a bit of an incentive to keep looking as good as they can.

Argyranthemum are commonly known as Marguerite Daisies and Federation Daisies.