Anthemis ‘EC Buxton’

Dyer's chamomile 'E.C. Buxton' (Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C. Buxton') is the perennial daisy for a sunny border that does not get watered much. It makes a soft mound about 70cm tall and 60cm wide, with ferny foliage under lemon yellow daisies on wiry stems. The colour is the point: pale rather than hot gold, so it lifts a planting instead of shouting over it.

Why you'll love it

• A yellow that behaves. Soft lemon sits comfortably beside blues, whites and silver foliage.
• Long flowering. The main flush runs from late spring into summer, and a hard cutback afterwards usually buys a second showing.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once established and untroubled by poor soil.
• Fast to fill a gap. A tube planted in spring covers its 60cm of ground by the end of the season, and bees and butterflies find it immediately.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 40cm apart for a full cottage border. At that spacing the mounds knit into a continuous band and the flower stems carry above it.

Mass planting. The same 40cm spacing works across a larger sweep, and the ground closes over within a season.

Pots and small gardens. A 300mm pot holds one plant well, giving height and flower without the bulk of a shrub.

Growing Dyer's chamomile in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun all day is what produces the flower count; in shade the stems stretch and flop. This is a plant for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy, so cold southern winters suit it. It is not a choice for tropical or subtropical gardens, where humid summers rot the crown.

Soil. Drainage matters more than fertility. Poor and gravelly ground suits it, while rich damp soil only makes soft growth that falls open. On heavy clay, raise the bed and work coarse grit through the planting hole.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. One light dose of complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough for the year.

Pruning. Cut the plant back by half once the main flush fades, which keeps it compact and prompts fresh basal growth. It is short lived, so lift and divide every two to three years.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown as tube stock: young plants, usually a rosette of ferny foliage, which travel well because there is little top growth to damage. Plant them out within a few days of arrival and keep the water up for the first month. Expect flowers in the first or second season depending on planting time.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• Low growing plant ideas for garden borders
• Bee and butterfly attracting plants
• Browse the full flowering plant range

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Forty centimetres apart gives a full, continuous border. Wider spacing leaves gaps that weeds find first, and closer planting restricts airflow around the crowns.

How long will it live?

Three to four years is typical for this perennial rather than a sign of a problem. Divide the clump every second or third year and the planting carries on indefinitely.

Will it handle frost?

Yes. It is frost hardy and dies back in cold districts before shooting again in spring. Cut the old growth off in late winter to let the new shoots through.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a 300mm pot of free draining mix in full sun. Potted plants dry out faster, so water through summer rather than relying on its drought tolerance.