Cape Daisy Pink

Cape Daisy Pink (Osteospermum ecklonis '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.

Why you'll love it

• Months of flower. Pink daisies open from late winter through spring and repeat into autumn, with the heaviest flush in the cooler half of the year.
• It fills space quickly. Fast growing and spreading to 60cm, so a bed closes over within a season at the right spacing.
• Heat, drought and salt. Once established it asks for very little water, and it holds up on exposed coastal beds where salt burns softer plants.
• Low maintenance. A shear after the main flush is the only job in the calendar.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 40cm apart for a dense carpet of colour. At that spacing the plants knit together inside one growing season.

Borders and edging. 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.

Pots and coastal gardens. Good in a wide pot or a raised coastal bed where drainage is sharp and the sun is unfiltered.

Growing Cape Daisy Pink in Australia

Position and climate. 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.

Soil. 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.

Water and feed. 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.

Pruning. 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.

What to expect when it arrives

It 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.

Plants 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.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider groundcover range for a matching carpet.
• Ideas for the front of a bed in our guide to edging plants.
• See other plants for coastal gardens.
• Add companions from our bee and butterfly plants.

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

Six 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.

Why are the flowers closed?

Cape 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.

How long will the plants last?

Three 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.