Margarita Dark Lilac Cape Daisy

Margarita Dark Lilac Cape Daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis 'Margarita Dark Lilac') is a low, mounding South African perennial, 30cm tall and wide, with big daisies in vibrant purple around darker centres. Despite the name it is not lilac at all, but an intense, almost neon cool purple. The flowers appear repeatedly for most of the year in sunny positions.

Why you'll love it

• Intense colour. The big daisy flowers are a cool, vibrant purple with darker centres, and they come in abundance.
• Months of flowers. Blooms appear repeatedly for most of the year in sunny positions, spring to autumn.
• Heat and drought tolerant. Once established it handles heat and dry weather, and it copes with seaside and alkaline soil.
• Handles breezy sites. The compact, upright stems hold up on exposed patios and windy beds.
• Quick, easy colour. It is a fast, effortless way to fill beds, patios and pots with flowers.

Where it works best

Garden beds and mass planting. Plant 30cm apart for a solid sweep of purple. The plants touch within a season of warm weather.

Patios and containers. Use it in pots on a patio, deck or balcony, where the mound stays tidy and the colour sits at eye level.

Rockeries and borders. Place it at the front of borders or between rocks. The strong purple pairs well with silver foliage.

Growing Margarita Dark Lilac Cape Daisy in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings the most flowers, though part shade is fine. It is a heat tolerant daisy for subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it copes with exposed spots. In colder districts, keep it in pots as seasonal colour.

Soil. Plant in free-draining soil rich in organic matter. It handles most soils and conditions, seaside and alkaline ground included.

Water and feed. Water regularly and keep mulch around the plant for the first 12 weeks. Once established it handles heat and dry weather well, and a feed in flower keeps the colour coming.

Pruning. Remove faded flowers regularly, which encourages a longer flowering season.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Margarita Dark Lilac Cape Daisy as tube stock. A tube is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, which makes it good value for filling a bed or several pots. It travels upright, starts growing away within a few weeks of warm weather, then builds into a flowering mound.

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

• Browse our cape daisy and osteospermum range
• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• Plants for balconies and patios
• Plants for mass planting

Common questions

Is Dark Lilac actually lilac?

Not really. The colour is an intense, cool purple that edges towards neon, deeper than any lilac. Think of it as a vivid purple with darker centres.

Does it need full sun?

Full sun gives the most flowers, but it also grows in part shade. In shade, expect fewer blooms.

How do I keep it flowering?

Remove spent flowers regularly and feed and water while it is in bloom. This encourages a longer flowering season.