{"title":"Cape Daisies and Osteospermum","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape daisies give more flower for less effort than almost any other plant for a sunny spot. From late winter through spring, and again in autumn, they cover a low mound of foliage with broad daisies in white, pink, purple, yellow, copper and striking two tone blends, many with a blue or dark centre. They suit borders, banks, coastal gardens and pots. This range covers the Margarita, Serenity and Lazy Daisy series and more. Every plant is delivered Australia wide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to choose a cape daisy\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese are all hybrids of \u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e, 30cm to 40cm tall and about 60cm wide, so the choice is colour. For clean whites, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cape-daisy-serenity-white-osteospermum-hybrid\"\u003eSerenity White\u003c\/a\u003e and Margarita Plus White have large flowers with a dark eye. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cape-daisy-blue-eyed-beauty-osteospermum-hybrid\"\u003eBlue Eyed Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e is yellow with a purple blue centre, one of the most eye catching. The Lazy Daisy series runs to warm shades: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-copper-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-copper\"\u003eLazy Daisy Copper\u003c\/a\u003e, Antique Shades and Scarlet Shades shift colour as each flower ages, so one plant shows several tones at once. Copper Amethyst blends bronze and purple, and Pink and Margarita Creme are soft colours that mix with anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere cape daisies work\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFull sun is the rule: the more sun, the more flowers. They handle coastal wind, light frost and dry spells, and grow in ordinary soil with drainage. Use them along a path, in front of shrubs, spilling over a wall, on a bank or in tubs and window boxes. They flower hardest in the mild weather of spring and autumn and rest a little in high summer heat. They sit among our most generous \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/flowering-plants\"\u003eflowering plants\u003c\/a\u003e and are easy \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and spacing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpace plants 40cm to 50cm apart for a continuous band of colour. Loosen the soil, plant level, mulch and water in. Water twice a week for the first month, then weekly until established. In pots, use a quality potting mix and a container at least 25cm wide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare basics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTrim off spent flowers every few weeks, or shear the whole plant lightly after each main flush, and it will flower again. Cut back by a third in late summer to renew the plant for autumn. Feed in early spring and after each trim with a fertiliser for flowering plants. Replace plants every three to four years when they turn woody. For lower cover between them, see our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eground cover\u003c\/a\u003e range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen do cape daisies flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMainly from late winter to late spring and again in autumn. In mild coastal climates they carry some flowers nearly all year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo cape daisies need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. They flower poorly in shade, and many varieties close their flowers in dull weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAre cape daisies perennial?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. They are evergreen perennials that last several years with a trim after flowering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo cape daisies grow well in pots?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery well. Give them a sunny position, regular water and a liquid feed every few weeks while in flower.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cape-daisy-blue-eyed-beauty-osteospermum-hybrid","title":"Cape Daisy ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ - Osteospermum hybrid","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Blue Eyed Beauty' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e hybrid 'Blue Eyed Beauty') carries butter yellow daisies with a dark blue centre, a two tone combination that reads clearly from across a garden. It makes a compact mound about 40cm high and 60cm wide, enough to hold the middle of a border without hiding what sits behind. Planted 40cm apart it covers ground in a single season and flowers in long flushes through the cooler months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA flower with two colours.\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft yellow petals around a deep blue eye give more contrast than a plain daisy, so a small planting still registers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeat rather than sprawling.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 40cm mound stays where you put it, useful along a driveway edge or between shrubs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandles heat, dry and salt.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and coastal tolerant once established, so a hot exposed bed suits it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong flowering.\u003c\/strong\u003e Flushes carry through autumn, winter and spring in mild districts, with a rest over the hottest weeks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and containers.\u003c\/strong\u003e One plant fills a 300mm pot and three fill a 500mm trough. Potted plants flower earlier because the mix warms faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Space 40cm apart, about six to the square metre, for a continuous run of colour along a path or the front of a bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e It stands up to salt laden wind, so it works in a seaside front garden. Across a wider bed, keep the 40cm spacing and let the mounds knit together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Cape Daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun is not negotiable, because the flowers close in dull weather and stay closed in shade. It grows well in cool temperate, warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens. It takes light frost only, so in hard frosting districts keep it in a pot you can shift under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drainage first, fertility second. Heavy wet soil rots the crown, so on clay work through compost and coarse sand or raise the planting area slightly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep the soil damp for the first month while roots take hold, then water only when the surface dries. A liquid feed every six weeks during flowering helps, while heavy feeding gives leaf at the expense of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShearing.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut the whole plant back by a third once a flush finishes. This is what keeps it compact; left alone it opens in the centre and goes woody, and the flowering drops away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one is sold as tube stock only. That means a young rooted plant, small enough to sit in your palm, rather than the flowering specimen in the photographs. Given sun and warmth it reaches full size within a season and flowers in its first cool season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube stock travels well because there is little top growth to bruise. Plant it out promptly rather than holding it in the tube. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/add-colour-through-plants-in-your-backyard-easily\"\u003eAdding lasting colour to a garden bed\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse low growing and groundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003eSee salt tolerant plants for coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-scarlet-shades-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-scarlet-shades\"\u003eTry Cape Daisy Scarlet Shades for warm tones\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does it flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn flushes from autumn through to late spring in mild districts, easing off in the hottest part of summer. Shearing after each flush brings the next one on sooner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy do the flowers shut in the afternoon?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies close in low light and open again in sun. It is normal, though it does mean a partly shaded bed will look bare for much of the day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow it in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and it is one of the better uses for it. A 300mm pot with free draining mix suits a single plant, and the pot can be moved to follow the sun through winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need much water?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot once established. It is drought tolerant and prefers to dry out between waterings, so overwatering is the more common mistake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51643764998463,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Cape-Daisy-Blue-Eyed-Beauty-Osteospermum-hybrid.jpg?v=1766223935"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-margarita-creme-osteospermum-hybrid","title":"Cape Daisy ‘Margarita Crème’  - Osteospermum hybrid","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Margarita Creme' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e hybrid) is the low, hard working daisy for the front edge of a sunny bed. It settles at about 40cm tall and 60cm across, then covers itself in cream and white daisies through spring, with a second showing in autumn. Drought, heat and salt tolerant once established, it holds ground where fussier perennials give up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers you notice from the street.\u003c\/strong\u003e At peak the blooms sit so thickly above the foliage that the leaves almost disappear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuinely low water.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once the roots are down it copes with dry spells, heat and salt spray without sulking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast to fill a gap.\u003c\/strong\u003e A tube planted in spring covers its 60cm of ground within a season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies work it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open daisy flowers are easy landing pads for pollinators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow maintenance by nature.\u003c\/strong\u003e A shear after each flush is the whole job. No staking, no spraying.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart along a path for a continuous ribbon of colour. Any tighter and the plants crowd into damp, congested growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e The same 40cm spacing across a bed gives a low carpet, useful on a wide front garden where mowing is a nuisance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries, pots and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage suits it, so a rockery pocket or a 300mm pot on a hot balcony both work, as does an exposed seaside front garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing cape daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun all day. In shade it stretches and the flowers stay shut. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens. Light frost is the limit, so cold inland and tableland districts want it in a pot that can move under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining is the only real requirement, and poor sandy ground suits it. On clay, raise the bed 150mm or plant on a mound, because wet feet through winter kills most cape daisies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first six weeks, then only through long dry spells. A light dose of controlled release fertiliser in early spring is plenty. Overfeeding gives you leaves instead of flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the plant back by a third once the spring flush finishes. That stops the centre going woody and brings on the autumn flowering. Expect to replace plants every three to four years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one is grown in tubes. A tube is a young plant with a well developed root plug and 100mm to 150mm of top growth, which is the sensible way to buy something that spreads this quickly: twenty five tubes cover far more ground than a handful of larger pots for the same money.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTubes are light and hold together in transit. Plant within a few days of arrival, water in, and keep mulch thin around the crown. Expect flowers in the first season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-perfect-edging-plants-landscape-your-perfect-garden\"\u003eChoosing the right edging plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003eBrowse bee and butterfly plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003eRockery plants for sharp drainage\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003eCoastal and salt tolerant planting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant cape daisies?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpace them 40cm apart for a continuous carpet. Any closer and the plants shade each other at the base, which invites rot in humid weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy do the flowers close in the afternoon?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies shut their flowers in low light and reopen in sun. It is normal behaviour, not a fault, but a shaded bed will look flowerless for much of the day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt handles light frost once established, and no more. In cold inland and tableland gardens grow it in a pot and shift it under cover for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51643765227839,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Cape-Daisy-Margarita-Creme-Osteospermum-hybrid.png?v=1766223937"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-margarita-plus-white-osteospermum-hybrid","title":"Cape Daisy ‘Margarita Plus White’ - Osteospermum hybrid","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Margarita Plus White' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e hybrid) is the flowering carpet for a hot, dry, sunny bed. It grows fast to about 30cm tall and 60cm wide, then covers itself in white daisies with a slate blue eye from late winter through spring. Few plants give this much colour for this little water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA long, heavy flowering season.\u003c\/strong\u003e Late winter through spring, with a lighter repeat in mild autumn weather.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast to cover ground.\u003c\/strong\u003e A tube planted in autumn is a 60cm mound by its first spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought and heat hardy.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established it survives on rainfall in most of the country, including hot dry inland summers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal ready and busy with insects.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant enough for a seaside front garden, and the open flowers are easy for bees and butterflies to work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart. The mounds knit together within a season and suppress most weeds; wider spacing leaves bare patches through the first year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 30cm high it softens a path edge or the front of a border without blocking what is behind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries and pots.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage plays to its strengths in a gravel garden or dry rockery. In pots it spills over the rim, and a 300mm container holds a single plant comfortably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Cape Daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, and plenty of it: flowers close in shade and the plant goes leggy. It suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and arid or semi-arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cold southern and tableland districts treat it as a seasonal planting or pot it where you can shelter it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining above all. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal; on clay, raise the bed and work coarse sand and compost through it. Heavy wet ground over summer is the main way these plants are lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first six weeks, then only through extended dry spells. A light feed of complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is all it asks for the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole planting back by about a third once the main spring flush finishes. Skip it and the plants go woody and bare in the middle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis cape daisy is sold as tube stock: small plants, often a rosette of leaves with little visible flower, which is exactly what you want for something this fast. Plant them straight out at 40cm spacing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTube stock travels well. Water them in, keep the bed damp for the first fortnight, then stretch the intervals. Expect first flowers within eight to twelve weeks from a spring planting. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOur guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/border-brilliance-low-growing-plant-ideas\"\u003elow growing plants for borders\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare plants for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003erockery or gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edrought tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e for a waterwise bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 40cm spacing, about six plants per square metre, which closes into a continuous carpet inside one growing season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has it gone woody and stopped flowering?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey get bare at the base if they are never cut. Shear back by a third after the main spring flush each year, and replace plants every three to four years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. In warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens it comes through winter fine, but hard frost burns the foliage and can kill young plants outright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51643765784895,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Cape-Daisy-Margarita-Plus-White-Osteospermum-hybrid.png?v=1766223938"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-serenity-white-osteospermum-hybrid","title":"Cape Daisy ‘Serenity White’ - Osteospermum hybrid","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Serenity White' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Serenity White') is the quickest way to get a sheet of clean white daisies over a bare bed. It stays low, around 30cm tall and spreading to about 50cm, and the flowering runs hardest through spring and again through autumn. Planted 40cm apart it knits into a continuous groundcover inside a single season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhite flowers over a long season.\u003c\/strong\u003e The heaviest flushes are spring and autumn, with scattered flowers between them in mild gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is a genuinely fast grower, so a bed planted 40cm apart closes over in a season rather than waiting years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat, drought and salt tolerant.\u003c\/strong\u003e Hot dry beds, west facing walls and coastal front gardens all suit it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open daisy flowers are easy for pollinators to work, and a mass planting is busy through both flushes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow and neat in a pot.\u003c\/strong\u003e The habit spills gently over the rim of a container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart in a single row along a path or driveway for a low white edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting and groundcover.\u003c\/strong\u003e The same 40cm spacing across a bed gives complete cover: ten plants fill about one and a half square metres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Good in a 300mm or larger container with free draining mix, and tough enough for a seaside front garden where salt spray reaches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Cape Daisy 'Serenity White' in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, six hours minimum. The flowers close in shade, at night and in dull weather, so a shady bed looks bare much of the day. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, takes light frost only, and does not persist in the humid tropics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining sandy loam is ideal. Rich, heavy or damp soil causes crown rot, the main way people lose this plant. On clay, raise the bed and add coarse material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly while establishing, then let the soil dry between drinks. A liquid fertiliser once a month through spring and autumn keeps the flushes coming, while too much nitrogen gives you leaf instead of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim the whole plant back by about a third as each flush finishes. That single habit keeps it compact and reflowering. Be honest about its lifespan: it goes woody after two or three years, at which point cut it back hard in early spring or replace it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one is grown as tubestock, sold as single plants: a young rooted plant in a narrow pot, small in the hand but quick to establish, which is what you want when a groundcover is planted in numbers. Expect full size and flowers within the first season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTubes travel well because the root ball is compact. Plant within a few days of arrival, water in, then hold off feeding for two to three weeks. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/border-brilliance-low-growing-plant-ideas\"\u003elow growing plant ideas for borders\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e for the rest of the bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003eplants that attract bees and butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFor contrast, plant it with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cape-daisy-pink-osteospermum-pink\"\u003eCape Daisy Pink\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForty centimetres apart, centre to centre. Each plant spreads to roughly 50cm, so the canopies meet without crowding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy are the flowers closed?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies close their petals in low light, so they shut at night, on overcast days and in shade. It is normal behaviour, and six hours of direct sun keeps them open through the day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it come back every year?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a perennial rather than an annual, but a short lived one. Expect two to three good years, then cut it back hard in early spring or replant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it handle frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A cold morning will not kill an established plant, but repeated hard frosts damage the foliage and flowering stops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":51643766440255,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Cape-Daisy-Serenity-White-Osteospermum-hybrid.png?v=1766223940"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-unicorn-osteospermum-hybrid","title":"Cape Daisy ‘Unicorn’  - Osteospermum hybrid","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Unicorn' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e hybrid) is the border plant that keeps flowering while everything around it takes a break. The blooms are the unusual part: narrow spoon shaped petals in blended tones that shift as each flower ages, so the planting is never one flat block of colour. It makes a low mound about 400mm tall and 600mm across, and planted 40cm apart it carpets a bed within a season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA long flowering season.\u003c\/strong\u003e Main flushes come in spring and autumn, with flowers on and off through the milder months in most temperate gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpoon petals you notice.\u003c\/strong\u003e Each petal is pinched into a tube that opens into a small spoon at the tip, which is why this series reads differently to a standard daisy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal ready.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerant, so it holds up on an exposed front garden where softer perennials scorch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought and heat tolerant.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once the roots are down it carries a dry summer on deep occasional watering rather than daily attention.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders, edging and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Space plants 40cm apart. At 400mm tall they hold the front of a bed without flopping over paving, and the mounds meet into a solid carpet of colour across a bank or a wide bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal gardens and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sandy free draining soil and salt laden wind are close to ideal, and a rockery gives the sharp drainage it wants in a wetter garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and containers.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 300mm pot on a sunny balcony flowers harder than the same plant in shade, and gives you full control of the drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing cape daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, with no compromise: in shade it stretches, flowers sparsely and opens fewer blooms. It suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and cool temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so in hard frosting districts plant in spring or use a movable pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining above all. It is unfussy about fertility but will not sit in wet feet, so raise the bed on heavy clay and work coarse sand through the backfill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week through the first summer, then taper to a deep soak during dry spells. A light dressing of slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough, since overfeeding gives leaf at the expense of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is the job that matters. Shear the whole plant back by about a third once each flush finishes, which stops it going woody in the middle and brings the next flush on faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown in one size, tube stock: a young rooted plant a few centimetres across, not a flowering specimen. For a border that is the right way to buy it, since tubes establish quickly and a bed at 40cm spacing usually flowers in its first season and reads as full cover by the second.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoft new growth can look tired after a few days in a box, so water it in well and give it a week before judging it. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead about \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/seaside-daisy-gardening-everything-to-know\"\u003egrowing daisies in a seaside garden\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/flowering-plants\"\u003eflowering plant range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003ecoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse plants that \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003eattract bees and butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForty centimetres apart. Each plant spreads to about 600mm, so that spacing lets the mounds overlap slightly into continuous cover while keeping air moving between them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has it stopped flowering?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsually heat or a spent flush rather than anything wrong. Shear it back by a third, water deeply and it sets buds again within a few weeks. Too much shade and too much fertiliser are the other common causes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo the flowers close at night?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, and on heavily overcast days as well. That is normal for the genus and worth knowing before you plant a bed you mostly see in the evening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":51643767783743,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Cape-Daisy-Unicorn-Osteospermum-hybrid.jpg?v=1766223941"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-copper-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-copper","title":"Cape Daisy Lazy Daisy Copper - Osteospermum 'Lazy Daisy Copper'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Lazy Daisy Copper' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Lazy Daisy Copper') carries warm copper orange daisies through the cooler months, when most borders have gone quiet. It stays low at about 30cm tall and spreads to 50cm, forming a neat spreading cushion rather than a leggy clump. Tough, fast and undemanding, it is the sort of plant you put in once and largely forget.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour in the off season.\u003c\/strong\u003e The main flush runs through autumn, winter and spring in mild districts, filling the gap other perennials leave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn unusual shade.\u003c\/strong\u003e Copper orange petals fading to a bronze reverse, which reads better with native and Mediterranean planting than the usual pinks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandles heat and salt.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, so hot verges and coastal front gardens suit it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeds pollinators.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open faced flowers are easy landing pads for bees and butterflies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart along a path or bed edge for a low continuous ribbon that softens the line without flopping over it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e At the same 40cm spacing a run of plants closes into a carpet of colour within a season, which is an efficient way to cover a sunny slope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e The compact habit suits a mixed container, a balcony pot or the pockets between rocks, where sharp drainage brings out the best growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing cape daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, and plenty of it. Flowers open in response to light, so a shaded position gives leaves and very little colour. It grows well in warm temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and cool temperate gardens, and tolerates light frost only, so hard frosting districts should treat it as a seasonal planting or grow it in a movable pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining above all else. It will take sandy and average garden soils happily, but heavy wet clay causes collapse, so raise the bed or add coarse material before planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first month, then only through dry spells. A light application of controlled release fertiliser in early autumn supports the main flowering period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole plant back by about a third after the main flush finishes. This is the difference between a tidy cushion and a woody, sparse plant, and it usually brings a second wave of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown as tube stock and in a 140mm pack of ten. Tubes are small young plants and the cheapest way to fill a long edge, while the 140mm pack of ten is the practical unit for a border or a mass planting and gives colour sooner. Neither size arrives as a finished mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect roots to take within two to three weeks in mild weather, then quick spread and the first flowers in the same season. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-perfect-edging-plants-landscape-your-perfect-garden\"\u003eChoosing plants for garden edges\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse groundcover plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003ePlants suited to rockeries\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003eBee and butterfly friendly plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need for a border?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne every 40cm along the run. Ten plants cover about four metres of edge, or roughly a square metre and a half of solid groundcover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy do the flowers close up?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies close at night and on heavily overcast days, which is normal. They reopen with the sun, so give them the brightest position you have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long will it last?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreat it as a short lived perennial of three to four years. Shearing after flowering extends it, and cuttings strike easily if you want to keep the planting going.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it cope with a humid summer?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn humid subtropical gardens it performs best over the cooler half of the year and can thin out through a wet summer. Sharp drainage and open spacing reduce the risk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54737831625023,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10) (Backorder)","offer_id":54737831657791,"sku":null,"price":230.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-copper-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-copper-6ebb97.jpg?v=1785940733"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-antique-shades-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-antique-shades","title":"Cape Daisy Lazy Daisy Antique Shades - Osteospermum 'Lazy Daisy Antique Shades'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Lazy Daisy Antique Shades' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Lazy Daisy Antique Shades') covers ground fast and flowers in blended apricot, pink and bronze tones that shift as each bloom ages. It sits at about 30cm tall and spreads to 60cm, so a handful of plants fills a border or a bank inside a season. It is a sun lover that asks for very little water once it is away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower colour that changes.\u003c\/strong\u003e Blooms open in soft apricot and deepen through pink and bronze, so one plant carries several tones at once.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast cover.\u003c\/strong\u003e A spreading 60cm habit and quick growth mean a bare bed reads as planted within a single season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade for hot, dry, exposed spots.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, so coastal front gardens and western beds suit it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees work it constantly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open daisy flowers are easy forage, and this one flowers over a long season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for full cover. At that spacing the plants meet in one growing season without smothering each other into soft leggy growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e A single row at 40cm centres gives a low flowering ribbon along a path. It stays under 30cm, so it never blocks a view or a walkway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e It spills over the rim of a pot or a low retaining wall, and the sharp drainage of a rockery suits it well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing cape daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day. In shade it stretches and flowers poorly. It grows in warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and arid gardens, and takes light frost only, so a hard frosting inland or tableland garden will cut it back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining and on the lean side. Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal; heavy clay needs a raised bed with coarse sand worked through. Rich soil gives you leaf instead of flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first six weeks, then only through long dry spells. A light dressing of slow release fertiliser in early spring is all it needs for the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole planting back by about a third after the main spring flush. That one cut keeps the centres full and brings on a second wave of flowers. Left untrimmed it goes woody and bare in the middle within two years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown as tube stock and in 140mm packs of ten. Tubes are the economical way to cover a large area and catch up within a season; the 140mm plants are already bushy and often carrying buds, which suits a small border you want looking finished sooner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoft foliage plants can look tired after transit, so water them in the day they arrive and give them a week in a sheltered spot before planting out in high summer. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e for other fast spreading options.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/top-plants-for-ground-cover-a-guide-to-greenery\"\u003eChoosing a groundcover\u003c\/a\u003e for the site you actually have.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-salt-tolerant-plants\"\u003ecoastal and salt tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e for exposed gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/border-brilliance-low-growing-plant-ideas\"\u003eLow growing plants for borders\u003c\/a\u003e and path edges.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 40cm spacing you need about six plants per square metre for full cover in a season. Stretch to 50cm if you are happy to wait two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has it stopped flowering in midsummer?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies often pause through the hottest weeks and pick up again as the nights cool. A shear back after the spring flush and a light feed shortens that gap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt takes light frost only. In a hard frosting garden it is usually grown as a warm season display, or kept in a 300mm pot that can move under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54739864781119,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10) (Backorder)","offer_id":54739864813887,"sku":null,"price":177.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-antique-shades-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-antique-shades-c74aaf.jpg?v=1785940730"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-scarlet-shades-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-scarlet-shades","title":"Cape Daisy Lazy Daisy Scarlet Shades - Osteospermum 'Lazy Daisy Scarlet Shades'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Lazy Daisy Scarlet Shades' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Lazy Daisy Scarlet Shades') is a low spreading perennial daisy in warm scarlet and orange tones. It holds about 30cm high and spreads to 60cm, so a run of them fills the front of a bed rather than standing above it. Planted 40cm apart it forms a solid carpet of colour, flowering hardest through the cooler half of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarm colour in the cool season.\u003c\/strong\u003e The scarlet to orange daisies come in flushes from autumn through spring, filling the gap left by summer perennials.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt spreads instead of standing up.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 30cm high and 60cm wide it covers ground, which suits the front edge of a bed better than an upright plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTough where it counts.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant once established, so it holds up in a hot front garden or a coastal block.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies find it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open faced daisies are easy for pollinators to work, and this one flowers over a long window.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart along a path or bed edge, roughly six plants to the square metre. The spread softens a hard line without spilling far enough to need constant trimming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMass planting and groundcover.\u003c\/strong\u003e Across a slope or wide bed the same 40cm spacing knits into continuous colour in one season. Set it in front of taller shrubs rather than in deep shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e It trails gently over the rim of a 300mm pot, and it takes salt laden wind well enough for a seaside courtyard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Cape Daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, without exception. The flowers close in dull weather and stay shut in shade, so a shaded position gives foliage and little else. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, and takes light frost only, so hard frosting districts should treat it as seasonal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining soil matters more than richness. It will rot in heavy wet ground, so improve clay with compost and coarse sand, or plant on a slight mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first month, then only when the top few centimetres dry out. A light liquid feed every six weeks through the flowering season keeps the flushes coming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrimming.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is the one job that matters. Shear the plant back by about a third after each flush. Skip it and the centre opens up and goes woody by the second year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sold as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are young rooted plants, the economical way to cover a large bed. The pack of ten covers roughly 1.6 square metres at 40cm spacing, in established plants that flower in their first season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerennials of this size travel well, though some leaf droop for a few days after unpacking is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/border-brilliance-low-growing-plant-ideas\"\u003eLow growing plants for garden borders\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/flowering-plants\"\u003eBrowse the flowering plant range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003eSee plants that bring in bees and butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/cape-daisy-blue-eyed-beauty-osteospermum-hybrid\"\u003ePair it with Cape Daisy Blue Eyed Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout six at the recommended 40cm spacing. That closes into continuous cover within a season without crowding the crowns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy have the flowers closed up?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies close on overcast days and at night, and open again in sun. It is normal behaviour rather than a problem, but it does mean a shaded spot will never look right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long does it live?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreated as a perennial it gives several good years, provided you shear after each flush. Without that trim it goes woody and is best replaced after two seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it handle frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. An occasional cold morning is fine, but repeated hard frost cuts it back, so in cold districts grow it in pots you can move under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54739873005887,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10) (Backorder)","offer_id":54739873038655,"sku":null,"price":230.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/cape-daisy-lazy-daisy-scarlet-shades-osteospermum-lazy-daisy-scarlet-shades-060aef.jpg?v=1785940736"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-pop-eye-osteospermum-pop-eye","title":"Cape Daisy Pop Eye - Osteospermum 'Pop Eye'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Pop Eye' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum ecklonis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Pop Eye') is the fastest way to get colour into a hot, dry, sunny bed. It grows to about 300mm tall and 600mm across, covering itself in yellow daisies with a dark central eye from late winter into spring. Plant it 40cm apart and the bed disappears under flowers in a single season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour in the first season.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is fast growing, so a tube planted in autumn is a flowering mound by spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt handles heat and drought.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established it runs on very little water, which suits a west facing bed or a hot driveway strip.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoastal ready.\u003c\/strong\u003e Salt tolerance means it holds up on exposed seaside verges and beach house gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies find it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open daisy flowers are easy to land on, and a mass planting works hard for pollinators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt suits most of the country.\u003c\/strong\u003e Subtropical through to cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid inland gardens all work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for full cover. Blocks of a dozen or more make more sense than single plants scattered about.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e The low mounded habit suits the front of a bed or a path edge, where it stays under knee height without trimming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries and pots.\u003c\/strong\u003e Sharp drainage between rocks is ideal, and one plant fills a 300mm pot or spills over the edge of a trough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing cape daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, six hours minimum. The flowers close on dull days and at night, which is normal. It takes light frost only, so hard frosting districts should treat it as a seasonal planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining and on the lean side. Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal, and heavy clay needs mounding and coarse sand worked through. Wet soil in winter is the usual cause of failure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice weekly for the first six weeks, then only through dry spells. Feed lightly with a controlled release fertiliser in early spring. Rich soil and heavy feeding give soft leggy growth and fewer flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole plant back by a third once the main flush finishes, which keeps it tight and often brings a second showing. Plants go woody in the centre after three or four years and are worth replacing at that point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo sizes are grown: tube stock, currently on backorder, and packs of ten 140mm plants. The 140mm pack is the practical choice for a bed or border, since each plant already has several stems and covers ground quickly. Tubes are the cheaper option per plant when you need real numbers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants travel upright and arrive as compact mounds rather than in full flower. Water in once, then let the soil dry between drinks while the roots move out. Expect full cover within a season in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the full groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-perfect-edging-plants-landscape-your-perfect-garden\"\u003eChoosing the right edging plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003eCompare rockery plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003ePlants that attract bees and butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout six plants per square metre at 40cm spacing. For a path edge, two to three per running metre gives a continuous ribbon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy are the flowers shut?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies close in low light and reopen in sun, so an overcast day or a shaded position leaves them looking bare. If yours stay closed, the position is not getting enough direct sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long will the plants last?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree to four good years is realistic before the centre goes woody and flowering drops off. Shearing after each flush extends that, and replacements are inexpensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it cope with frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. It comes through a mild frost with some leaf damage, but a hard frost will kill it outright, so cold districts should treat it as a seasonal planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54741405696319,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":11.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54741405729087,"sku":null,"price":198.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/cape-daisy-pop-eye-osteospermum-pop-eye-e5cfa6.jpg?v=1785940753"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-white-osteospermum-white","title":"Cape Daisy White - Osteospermum 'White'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy White (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e 'White') is a fast spreading daisy groundcover that covers about 60cm of ground and stands only 40cm tall. Clean white petals around a dark centre open from early spring into autumn, over grey green foliage. It flowers hardest in the conditions that defeat most perennials: full sun, lean soil and very little water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA very long flowering season.\u003c\/strong\u003e In warm gardens it carries daisies from early spring through to late autumn, with a scattering in mild winters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt covers ground fast.\u003c\/strong\u003e Spreading to 60cm and growing quickly, a planting closes over in a single season instead of three.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt for heat and salt.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, so hot rockeries, coastal front gardens and dry verges all suit it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies work it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open daisy flowers are the easiest shape for pollinators to feed from, and there is a long season of them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for dense cover. At that spacing plants knit within a season, hold soil on a slope and leave little room for weeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e At 40cm tall it softens a path edge or the front of a bed without hiding anything planted behind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRockeries, pots and walls.\u003c\/strong\u003e The sharp drainage of a rockery is exactly what it wants, and it spills neatly over the lip of a pot or a low retaining wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing cape daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, six hours as a minimum, because the flowers stay shut in shade. Subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens all work. It takes light frost only, so cold inland and southern districts want a sheltered north facing bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining and lean. Sandy and gravelly ground is ideal. Heavy clay is the one soil to avoid, since wet feet through winter kill it faster than any drought will.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first month, then fortnightly, then rarely. A light dressing of slow release fertiliser in early spring is plenty, and generous feeding buys you foliage instead of flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole planting back by about a third after the main spring flush, and again in late summer. Skip it and the centres go woody and bare within two years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sold as tubestock or as 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tubes are small rooted cuttings and the sensible buy for a large area, because this daisy grows quickly enough to close ground from a standing start. The 140mm plants are fuller, often already in bud, and give a result the same season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect roots to take hold within three weeks in warm weather and flowering to follow soon after. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003eBrowse the groundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/border-brilliance-low-growing-plant-ideas\"\u003eLow growing plants for garden borders\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003ePlants that suit a rockery\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eDrought tolerant plants for dry gardens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForty centimetres apart for a groundcover or mass planting. That is close enough to close the gaps in one season and open enough for air to move through the crowns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy do the flowers close up?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies shut at night and on heavily overcast days, then reopen with the sun. It is normal behaviour for the species rather than a sign of stress, though a plant in shade may barely open at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I stop it going woody in the middle?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShear it twice a year, after the spring flush and again in late summer, taking about a third off. Regular shearing is the single thing that keeps a cape daisy planting looking full.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long will it last?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree to five years is typical for this kind of daisy. Cuttings strike easily in spring, so most gardeners replace tired sections from their own plants rather than buying again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":54741432926527,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":11.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54741432959295,"sku":null,"price":189.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/cape-daisy-white-osteospermum-white-46a1ef.jpg?v=1785940745"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-copper-amethyst-osteospermum-copper-amethyst","title":"Cape Daisy Copper Amethyst - Osteospermum 'Copper Amethyst'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy 'Copper Amethyst' (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Copper Amethyst') covers a hot sunny bed in colour faster than almost anything else we grow. It forms a low spreading mound about 40cm tall and 60cm across, carrying copper toned daisies over a deep purple eye from early spring well into autumn. All it asks is full sun and sharp drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour in the first season.\u003c\/strong\u003e It grows fast, so tubes planted in spring are flowering and knitting together by summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn unusual colour break.\u003c\/strong\u003e Copper petals over a purple centre shift tone as the flowers age, which keeps a mass planting from reading flat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTough where it counts.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, so it holds up in coastal beds and hot dry aspects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBees and butterflies work it constantly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Open daisy flowers over a long season are among the easiest nectar sources you can plant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for a solid carpet of colour. The plants meet within a season and shade out most weed germination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e The same 40cm spacing in a single row gives a soft flowering edge along a path or driveway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e It spills over the rim of a pot or a low wall, and the gritty soil of a rockery suits it better than a rich bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing cape daisy in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day if you can give it. The flowers close at night and on overcast days, which is how the plant works rather than a fault. It suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and cool temperate gardens, and takes light frost only, so in hard frosting districts grow it in a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining is the requirement. Sandy and gravelly soils are ideal, and on clay you should raise the bed and work coarse sand through it. Winter wet is what kills these plants, not cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water regularly for the first six weeks, then only through dry spells. A light complete fertiliser in early spring and again after the main flush keeps the flowering going.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear the whole plant back by about a third after each big flush. This is the one job that matters, because plants left unsheared go woody and open in the middle within two years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes as tube stock and in 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are the cheapest way to cover ground and they catch up quickly given how fast this plant grows. A pack of ten 140mm plants covers roughly 1.5 square metres at 40cm spacing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoft leafy plants can look flattened after transit and lift again within days once watered in. Expect flowers within six to eight weeks in the warm months. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMore ideas for the front of the bed in \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/border-brilliance-low-growing-plant-ideas\"\u003elow growing plants for borders\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare options in our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd more nectar with \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003ebee and butterfly plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFind companions among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003erockery plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant 40cm apart for a solid carpet of colour, whether as groundcover or a border row. Closer planting crowds the crowns and encourages rot in humid weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy are the flowers shut?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies close their petals at night, in shade and under heavy cloud, then reopen with the sun. If yours stay shut on a bright day, the position needs more direct light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long will the plants last?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect three to four good years from each plant, sometimes longer with regular shearing. They are fast and generous rather than long lived, so plan on refreshing a mass planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it survive frost?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight frost only. A touch of frost burns the leaf tips and the plant recovers in spring, but repeated hard frosts kill it. In cold inland gardens grow it in pots you can shift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54742702260543,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54742702293311,"sku":null,"price":187.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/cape-daisy-copper-amethyst-osteospermum-copper-amethyst-847fe6.jpg?v=1785940727"},{"product_id":"cape-daisy-pink-osteospermum-pink","title":"Cape Daisy Pink - Osteospermum 'Pink'","description":"\u003cp\u003eCape Daisy Pink (\u003cem\u003eOsteospermum ecklonis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Pink') covers ground fast and flowers for most of the year. It sits at about 40cm tall and spreads to 60cm, carrying clear pink daisy flowers over grey green foliage from late winter well into autumn. For a hot, dry, sunny bed it is one of the least expensive ways to hold colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMonths of flower.\u003c\/strong\u003e Pink daisies open from late winter through spring and repeat into autumn, with the heaviest flush in the cooler half of the year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt fills space quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast growing and spreading to 60cm, so a bed closes over within a season at the right spacing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat, drought and salt.\u003c\/strong\u003e Once established it asks for very little water, and it holds up on exposed coastal beds where salt burns softer plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow maintenance.\u003c\/strong\u003e A shear after the main flush is the only job in the calendar.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGroundcover and mass planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 40cm apart for a dense carpet of colour. At that spacing the plants knit together inside one growing season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and edging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Along a path or driveway it holds a neat 40cm height. Growth loosens in midsummer heat, so it suits a relaxed edge better than a formal one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and coastal gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Good in a wide pot or a raised coastal bed where drainage is sharp and the sun is unfiltered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Cape Daisy Pink in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, without qualification. Flowering drops away in shade and the habit opens up. It grows well in warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and cool temperate gardens, but it takes light frost only, so hard frosting districts should treat it as a seasonal planting or keep it potted under cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining above all else. Sandy and gravelly ground suits it perfectly. On clay, plant on a raised mound or in a raised bed, because wet winter soil is the usual cause of failure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water twice a week for the first month, then only through extended dry spells. Feed lightly in early spring with a complete fertiliser. Heavy feeding gives soft growth and fewer flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Shear back by about a third once the main spring flush finishes. That keeps the clump compact and brings on the next round of buds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown as tube stock and as 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tubes are the value choice for a large area and catch up within a season. The 140mm plants give an immediate result and are the easier option for a border, a raised bed or a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants often travel with their flowers closed, which is normal rather than a fault. Expect fresh growth within two to three weeks in the warm months. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrowse the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/groundcover\"\u003egroundcover range\u003c\/a\u003e for a matching carpet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeas for the front of a bed in our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/the-perfect-edging-plants-landscape-your-perfect-garden\"\u003eguide to edging plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-coastal-areas\"\u003eplants for coastal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd companions from our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003ebee and butterfly plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow many plants do I need per square metre?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSix at 40cm centres gives a solid carpet in one season. Stretching to 50cm still closes over, it simply takes a second season and leaves more room for weeds meanwhile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy are the flowers closed?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCape daisies close at night, in rain and on heavily overcast days, then reopen in sun. It is normal behaviour, not stress, and it is worth knowing before you plant a shaded courtyard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long will the plants last?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree to four years of strong performance is typical before the base turns woody and flowering thins. Shearing each year extends that, and replacement plants are inexpensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":54742732276031,"sku":"QLD-tube","price":11.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54742732308799,"sku":null,"price":188.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/cape-daisy-pink-osteospermum-pink-438f96.jpg?v=1785940739"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/collections\/osteospermum-collection.jpg?v=1790859071","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/collections\/osteospermum.oembed","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}