Stiff Daisy
A very attractive native daisy Brachyscome angustifolia is found along the east coast of Australia from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
Flowering mainly in Spring the mauve to pink flowers appear on tallish stems and flowering can also occur sporadically from summer to autumn.
How To Grow Brachyscome angustifolia
This is a plant from alpine to sub alpine areas, and requires a moist well drained soil.
- Choose a sunny position to part afternoon shade depending on climate.
- This is a species that will produce suckers and spread, so allow it a little room to grow.
- Prepare soil by weeding well and ensuring drainage is good.
- Plant and water in well.
- Mulch around the plant to maintain a cool root run and encourage spread.
Pruning
A light trim after flowering willl keep the plant tidy and encourage branching and a denser growth habit. Try not to prune back into old wood as this can cause problems and dieback.
Cultivars include, Fresco Candy, Brasco Violet, Hot Candy and others all with different flower colours.
Varieties
Twp varieties are found.
- var. angustifolia
- var. heterophylla
These are identified mainly by the foliage with var. heterophylla having lobbed leaves.
Propagation
Easy from cuttings taken in spring. Established clumps can also be divided in spring.
Summary
- Botanical Name – Brachyscome angustifolia syn. Brachyscome graminea
- Common Name – Stiff Daisy, Grassland Daisy, Rock Daisy also as Cut Leaf Daisy
- Family – Asteraceae
- Position – Full sun to light shade
- Soil – Well drained
- Flowers – Shades of Mauve to Pink
- Flowering Time – Year round in most conditions. Best from spring through summer to autumn
- Foliage – Deep green
- Habit – Evergreen, Prostrate
- Height – To around 30cm
- Growth Rate – medium to fast
- Spread – Mound Forming to around 30cm to 1m.
- Frost tolerance – Light frosts.
- Uses – Ground cover plant, edging plant, general garden border filler.