Rhodanthe ‘Sunray Snow’

Rhodanthe 'Sunray Snow' (Rhodanthe anthemoides 'Sunray Snow') is a low native paper daisy that smothers itself in white flowers opening from soft pink buds. It reaches only about 30cm tall and 40cm wide, forming a fine textured mound of aromatic grey green foliage. The real appeal is where it thrives: poor, gravelly, dry soil in full sun, the ground most flowering plants refuse.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers that bury the plant. Pink buds open to papery white daisies in numbers that hide the foliage, and they hold their shape far longer than a soft petalled daisy.
• Poor soil is an advantage. Genuinely poor soil tolerant and drought tolerant, so a dry gravelly verge suits it better than an improved bed.
• Aromatic foliage. The fine grey green leaves carry a warm herbal scent, a good reason to plant it along a path edge.
• Small enough for anywhere. At 30cm by 40cm it fits a trough, a rockery pocket or a border edge without ever needing cutting back for space.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart along a path or the front of a sunny bed. At that spacing the mounds meet into an unbroken white band in flower.

Rockeries and gravel gardens. This is the position it was made for. Sharp drainage between rocks, reflected heat and lean soil produce a tighter, better flowering plant than rich ground will.

Mass planting, groundcover and pots. Set at 30cm apart across a dry sunny slope it gives low cover that needs no irrigation once away, and a shallow trough works if the mix is gritty.

Growing Rhodanthe in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, all day. Anything less produces a leggy plant with half the flowers. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, mediterranean and arid gardens, and it is frost hardy. It is not the plant for humid subtropical or tropical gardens, where wet summer air rots the crown.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. Sandy, gravelly and rocky soils are ideal, and it performs better in lean ground than in a rich composted bed. Keep mulch thin and pulled back from the crown.

Water and feed. Water fortnightly through the first season to establish, then rely on rain in most temperate districts. Feeding is largely unnecessary: a light dose of low phosphorus native fertiliser in spring is the most it wants.

Pruning. Shear the whole plant back by about a third once the main flush finishes. This is the one job that matters, because an untrimmed plant goes woody and flowers less each year.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown as tube stock, and for a plant this size that is the right choice rather than a compromise. A tube plant establishes quickly, fills its 40cm of space within a season in a sunny spot, and costs little enough to mass along a whole border.

Expect a small, fine leafed plant that looks slight for a few weeks before it starts spreading. One honest point: rhodanthe is a short lived perennial, and three to five good years is a normal life, so plan on refreshing a mass planting. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plants that thrive in poor soil
• Shop plants suited to rockeries and gravel gardens
• Low growing ideas for garden borders
• Compare the wider Australian native range

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it as a groundcover?

Thirty centimetres apart. The mounds spread to about 40cm and meet within a season, giving continuous cover while keeping airflow around the crowns.

How long does it live?

Three to five years is typical, since it is a short lived perennial rather than a shrub. Shearing back after flowering extends that, and cuttings taken in spring keep a planting going.

Will it grow in a humid subtropical garden?

It is not the right choice. It is built for warm temperate, cool temperate, mediterranean and arid climates, and humid summers cause crown rot.