Cape Daisy Pop Eye

Cape Daisy 'Pop Eye' (Osteospermum ecklonis '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.

Why you'll love it

• Colour in the first season. It is fast growing, so a tube planted in autumn is a flowering mound by spring.
• It handles heat and drought. Once established it runs on very little water, which suits a west facing bed or a hot driveway strip.
• Coastal ready. Salt tolerance means it holds up on exposed seaside verges and beach house gardens.
• Bees and butterflies find it. Open daisy flowers are easy to land on, and a mass planting works hard for pollinators.
• It suits most of the country. Subtropical through to cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid inland gardens all work.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 40cm apart for full cover. Blocks of a dozen or more make more sense than single plants scattered about.

Borders and edging. The low mounded habit suits the front of a bed or a path edge, where it stays under knee height without trimming.

Rockeries and pots. Sharp drainage between rocks is ideal, and one plant fills a 300mm pot or spills over the edge of a trough.

Growing cape daisy in Australia

Position and climate. 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.

Soil. 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.

Water and feed. 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.

Pruning. 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.

What to expect when it arrives

Two 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.

Plants 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, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full groundcover range
• Choosing the right edging plants
• Compare rockery plants
• Plants that attract bees and butterflies

Common questions

How many do I need per square metre?

About six plants per square metre at 40cm spacing. For a path edge, two to three per running metre gives a continuous ribbon.

Why are the flowers shut?

Cape 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.

How long will the plants last?

Three 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.

Will it cope with frost?

Light 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.