Spindrift Seaside Daisy

Spindrift Seaside Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus 'Spindrift') is a neat, low groundcover about 20cm tall and 50cm wide, covered in small daisies that open white and age to deeper red-pink. It flowers heavily in spring and summer and on and off through the rest of the year. It was bred as a tidier, better-mannered form of the familiar seaside daisy, so it keeps to its place in paths, pots and rockeries.

Why you'll love it

• Two colours on one plant. New flowers open white and older ones deepen to red-pink, so the contrast is always there.
• A long flowering season. The main flush comes in spring and summer, with scattered flowers through the rest of the year.
• Tidier than the species. Leaves and flowers are smaller and the habit is dense and compact, and it does not rampage the way the original seaside daisy can.
• Tough in tough spots. It tolerates frost, wind, salty soils and heat.
• Fits small spaces. At 20cm tall it suits baskets, window boxes, path edges and rockeries.

Where it works best

Groundcover and borders. Plant 40cm apart and the plants knit into a continuous low carpet within a season or two. It is a good skirt for taller perennials and shrubs.

Paths, steps and rockeries. It settles into gaps between stones and softens hard edges along paths, steps and walls.

Baskets and window boxes. The mounding, slightly trailing habit looks good spilling over the rim of a pot.

Coastal gardens. Wind and salty soil do not trouble it, so it is useful for exposed beds near the sea.

Growing Spindrift Seaside Daisy in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flowers, though it tolerates a small amount of shade. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens and takes frost, wind and heat. In humid summers it can loosen up and look leggy, which a clip-over fixes.

Soil. Plant in free-draining soil rich in organic matter. Dig in some compost on poor, sandy ground, and on heavy clay plant on a raised mound or in a pot.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well until the plant is established. After that it only needs water in long dry spells, and it copes with drought better than most flowering groundcovers.

Pruning. Clip the plant over after flowering to keep it compact and to encourage a second wave of flowers. It is the only job it needs.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Spindrift Seaside Daisy as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small, leafy plant, settles within a few weeks in warm soil and then spreads steadily. Expect the first flush within a season, with the full carpet building over the following one.

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

• How to grow and care for seaside daisy
• More groundcovers for Australian gardens
• Plants for rockeries and walls
• Bee and butterfly plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 40cm apart for a continuous groundcover. Closer spacing fills faster, but the plants then need more clipping.

When should I cut it back?

Clip it over after the main flowering, which encourages compact growth and a second wave of flowers. Spent flower stems can also be trimmed off at any time.

Could it become a weed near bushland?

Spindrift is a compact, non-invasive form, but the species has naturalised in parts of south eastern Australia. If your garden borders bushland or a creek, check your council's guidance and clip off spent flowers.