Margarita Purple Spoon Cape Daisy

Margarita Purple Spoon Cape Daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis 'Margarita Purple Spoon') is a low, wide, mounding South African perennial, 30cm tall and wide, with deep purple daisies. The petals are skinny in the middle and flared at the tips, which gives the spoon in its name. It is less vigorous than most cape daisies, so it stays smaller.

Why you'll love it

• Spoon-shaped petals. Narrow in the middle and flared at the tips, the petals make an unusual, eye-catching flower.
• Intense purple. A rich, deep purple that stands out against the green foliage.
• Stays smaller. The spoon types are less vigorous than ordinary osteospermums, so choose them if you want a plant that stays compact.
• Spring to autumn colour. Flowers appear repeatedly for most of the year in sunny positions.
• Heat and drought tolerant. Once established it handles heat and dry weather, and it copes with seaside and alkaline soil.

Where it works best

Patios and balconies. Grow it in pots where its unusual flowers can be admired up close. It holds its stems upright, so the flowers face you.

Mixed beds in warm climates. Plant 30cm apart in a sunny bed for a neat, low drift of purple.

Seasonal colour in cooler climates. In colder districts, use it in pots as seasonal colour, and move it to shelter if frost threatens.

Growing Margarita Purple Spoon Cape Daisy in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It is heat tolerant, so it thrives in subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In cooler places, treat it as seasonal potted colour.

Soil. Free-draining soil enriched with organic matter suits it. It is relaxed about the rest, taking seaside and alkaline ground in its stride.

Water and feed. Mulch it and water regularly for the first 12 weeks. After that it is heat and drought tolerant, though regular feeding and water in flower keep it blooming.

Pruning. Take off spent flowers regularly. It is the easiest way to lengthen the flowering season.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Margarita Purple Spoon Cape Daisy as tube stock. A tube is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and it is the economical way to fill several pots or a bed. Because the spoon types are less vigorous, expect a tidy mound rather than a sprawl once it settles.

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
• Plants for pots and containers
• Plants for small gardens
• Perennial plants for a cottage garden

Common questions

Why is it called Purple Spoon?

The petals are skinny in the middle and flared at the tips, so each one looks like a small spoon. The flowers are an intense rich purple.

Will it stay small?

Yes, more than most. Spoon types are less vigorous than the usual osteospermums, so choose them if you want a plant that stays compact.

Can I grow it in a cold climate?

Use it as seasonal colour in pots. It thrives in warm gardens, and in cooler districts a pot lets you move it to shelter.