When this colorful annual blooms in summer, the flowers nearly cover the entire plant.
This ensures the plants produce the most flowers possible on dense plants.
When planting in containers, use a planting medium ofpotting soil with vermiculite.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
In the garden, they prefer a location with well-draining garden soil.
Dig holes just large enough for the root ball and spaced 6-9 inches apart.
Wait until after the last anticipated frost.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
As they grow, thin them to 6-9 inches apart.
Swan river daisies planted in this manner tend to produce more robust seedlings than ones started indoors.
Light
Grow swan river daisies in full sun.
Credit: Scott Little
If grown in too much shade, they can become floppy and not flower as much.
Their ideal growing conditions include moist, organically rich,well-drained soil.
However, they adapt to tough situations, growing in sandy or clay soil and even rocky outcroppings.
Credit: Andrew Drake
Soil pH should be between 6.0 and 8.0.
Amend the soil with aged compost to create this environment.
They’re drought tolerant but need extra water when the weather is hot and dry.
Credit: John Reed
If they’re growing in sandy soil, water more frequently, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
They do best in temperatures between 50oF and 75oF.
This helps reinvigorate the plant and encourages bushy new growth.
Shearing also helps build the groundwork for plenty of fall blooms once the temperatures begin to cool off again.
Keep them deadheaded throughout the growing season to encourage continuous flowers.
Potting and Repotting Swan River Daisy
Swan river daisies do well as container plants.
Use terra-cotta pots with drainage holes and potting soil with vermiculite.
Site them in a sunny spot, whether indoors or outdoors.
Deadhead potted swan river daisies to keep new blooms coming.
They don’t need to be repotted each year if they receive the care they need.
Pests and Problems
Swan river daisies are susceptible topowdery mildew, a common foliar fungal disease.
Full sun can help keep it away.
Overwatering may result in root rot.
Besides slugs or snails, swan river daisies have few problems with pests.
Use aslug deterrentto keep them from chewing on your plant’s leaves.
ensure there’s at least one node and two leaves on eachstem cutting.
Remove any foliage from the bottom half of the cutting and dip it in rooting hormone.
Resistance indicates the cutting has rooted.
Wait until the cutting displays robust new growth before transplanting it into a large container or the garden.
Swan river daisy can also begrown from dried seedscollected from fading blooms.
Keep the seeds in a dark, dry place until you are ready to plant.
Cover the seeds lightly.
Place clear plastic bags over each pot and put them in a warm, bright spot.
Remove the plastic bag every two or three days to check that the medium remains moist.
When you see growth, remove the plastic bags permanently.
These beauties are a favorite option for hanging baskets and containers.
These lightly fragrant flowers cover the foliage, particularly in temperate summer areas.
It grows as an annual except in Zones 9-11, where it can be grown as a perennial.
This easy-going addition to the garden is low-maintenance and a welcome addition to borders and containers.
This tough plantproduces bold-color, daisylike flowersfrom summer to frost in most growing regions.
The flowers appear over toothed dark green or silver leaves (the foliage color differs between varieties).
They’re showy specimens in beds and borders and containers, too.
Zones 4-10
Geranium
Geraniums are agardener’s favorite.
Traditional bedding types love hot weather and hold up well to dry conditions; many offer colorful foliage.
Though most geraniums are grown as annuals, they are perennials in warmer climates.
Zones 10-11
Lisianthus
Lisianthus flowersmake people ooh and ahh.
Some varieties of this annual look like a blue rose.
Lisianthus is one of the best cut flowersit will last in the vase for 2 to 3 weeks.
Lisianthus can be challenging to growespecially from seedso start with established seedlings.
All colors typically have a bright yellow disk in the center, giving the plant atraditional daisy look.
Swan river daisy draws bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial wildlife to your garden.
As a bonus, deer and rabbits aren’t interested in munching on these plants.
