Moroccan Daisy

Moroccan Daisy (Rhodanthemum 'African Eyes') is a low silver mound that flowers white for months without asking much of you. It settles at about 30cm tall and 60cm across, small enough for a rockery pocket or the front edge of a border. The foliage is finely cut and grey, so the plant still looks deliberate between flushes.

Why you'll love it

• White daisies over silver foliage. The contrast reads clearly from a distance, which is what a small plant needs to earn its place.
• It stays where you put it. At 30cm by 60cm it holds a neat dome rather than sprawling into its neighbours.
• Genuinely low maintenance. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil once the roots are down.
• Frost hardy. Cold southern and tableland gardens suit it, where many silver leaved plants sulk.
• Bees and butterflies use it. Open single flowers are easy for pollinators to land on.

Where it works best

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Sharp drainage, reflected heat and lean soil are the conditions it evolved for in North Africa.

Borders and edging. Plant 40cm apart for a massed display. At that spacing the mounds meet within a season and read as one silver ribbon rather than a row of dots.

Pots and small gardens. A 300mm pot in full sun suits a single plant, in a free draining mix. Heavy potting mix that stays wet is the quickest way to lose it.

Growing Moroccan Daisy in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun all day, with air movement. It belongs in Mediterranean, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, so Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and the inland tablelands all suit it. Humid subtropical and tropical gardens are the wrong fit, because wet summer air rots the crown.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. On clay, raise the bed and mix through coarse sand or gravel. A gravel mulch beats bark here, since it keeps the base of the plant dry.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. A light handful of complete fertiliser in early spring is plenty. Rich soil gives soft growth and fewer flowers.

Pruning. Shear the mound back by about a third after the main flush. That keeps it compact and brings on a second round of buds. Left alone it opens out in the centre after two or three years.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in two sizes: tube stock, and 140mm plants in packs of ten. Tubes are young, usually a rosette of silver foliage a few centimetres across, and they establish quickly in warm soil. The 140mm packs suit a border run, since ten plants cover about four metres of edge at 40cm spacing.

Small plants travel well, and some flattened foliage on arrival is normal rather than a fault. Plant within a few days, water in, and expect the first flowers within a season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the rockery plant range.
• Low growing plant ideas for borders.
• Bee and butterfly plants for a longer flowering season.
• Choosing edging plants for paths and bed margins.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Forty centimetres apart gives a continuous silver band within a season. For individual accents in a rockery, stretch that to 60cm so each mound keeps its own shape.

Will it survive frost?

Yes. It is frost hardy and comes through cold southern winters without protection. The real risk is wet rather than cold, so drainage is the thing to get right.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, and it makes a good pot plant in full sun. Use a 300mm or larger container with a free draining mix, and let the surface dry between waterings.

How long do the flowers last?

The main flush runs through spring, with scattered flowers into summer and autumn in mild gardens. A light shear afterwards usually brings a second round.