Red Point Chamomile Sunray

Red Point Chamomile Sunray (Rhodanthe anthemoides 'Red Point') is a small Australian native paper daisy, 15cm to 30cm high and 30cm to 40cm wide, with fine grey-green foliage. Cherry-red buds form over winter and pop open into starry white and yellow daisies in spring and summer. It is a neat, cheerful plant for balconies, baskets and sunny gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Red buds, white daisies. Cherry-red winter buds open into starry white flowers with gold centres, so the plant is attractive before it blooms as well as during.
• Fine grey-green foliage. The soft leaves form a tidy, rounded mound that sits well in pots and mixed plantings.
• Frost and drought tolerant. Once established it comes through light frost and dry spells in free draining soil.
• Compact for small spaces. At 15cm to 30cm high it suits balconies, window boxes and hanging baskets.
• A true local. It is a garden form of a wildflower found wild in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Where it works best

Balconies and baskets. A hanging basket or a pot on a sunny balcony shows off the red buds up close.

Rockeries and sunny edges. Plant 40cm apart among rocks or along a sunny edge. The mounds form a loose, flowering line without crowding.

Wildlife gardens. Open daisy flowers suit bees and other small insects, so it fits a pollinator planting.

Mixed borders. Use it at the front of a sunny border, where the winter buds add interest in the quiet months.

Growing Red Point Chamomile Sunray in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun suits it best, in a warm, dry position. It dislikes excess humidity, so in humid districts a pot or raised bed with sharp drainage is safer than open ground. It will come through a light frost in free draining soil, and very hot summers pause the flowering until temperatures cool.

Soil. Chalky or sandy, free draining soil is ideal. Add grit to heavy soil, or grow it in a pot of gritty potting mix.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well in summer. Give it a feed when it regrows in autumn, which helps it form the winter buds.

Pruning. Deadhead old flowers to encourage more. A midsummer prune lets the plant rest and recover, and it shoots again in autumn.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Red Point Chamomile Sunray as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes are an economical way to fill a row of pots or a rockery pocket. Expect a small plant with fine grey-green foliage, and give it time to bulk out. Plant it in a sunny, well drained position and water it in.

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 Australian natives
• Plants for balconies
• Plants for native bees in Australian gardens
• Drought tolerant plants

Common questions

When does it flower?

Cherry-red buds form over winter and open into white and yellow daisies in spring and summer. A midsummer prune and an autumn feed prepare it for the next round of buds.

Is it frost hardy?

It comes through a light frost in free draining soil, and it is drought tolerant once established. In very cold districts, give it a sheltered, sunny spot.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, and it suits balconies, baskets and window boxes well. Use a gritty, free draining mix, full sun and a little water in summer.