Painted daisy is a luminous perennial that brings early summer color to gardens in zones 3 through 7. Native to southwestern Asia, this upright, bushy plant grows 24 to 36 inches tall and produces showy, daisy-like flowers up to 3 inches across with white, pink, or red rays surrounding bright yellow center disks. The blooms arrive in June and July atop wiry stems, rising above soft, finely divided, fern-like foliage that releases a distinctive aromatic scent when brushed. Unlike its aggressive relative tansy, painted daisy won't overtake your garden through aggressive self-seeding or spreading rhizomes, making it a controlled, reliable performer.
18
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-7
36in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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The flowers practically glow in early summer, offering pristine white, blushing pink, or vivid red petals around golden centers that butterflies and other pollinators find irresistible. Cut them fresh for long-lasting arrangements, or leave them standing in the garden to feed beneficials. Painted daisy thrives with minimal fussing once established, asking only for average soil, moderate moisture, and a sunny spot, though it appreciates afternoon shade in hot climates. Its finely textured foliage stays attractive all season, and cutting spent stems encourages more blooms to follow.
Painted daisy excels as a cut flower, holding its form and color beautifully in arrangements for days. In the garden, it serves as a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators, adding life and movement to perennial borders and cottage gardens. The flowers dry well for arrangements, allowing you to extend their visual impact indoors.
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Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, pressing them lightly onto moist seed-starting mix without covering, as they need light to germinate. Maintain soil temperatures around 70°F and keep the medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. Expect germination in 10 to 14 days.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions, then transplant into the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart in their permanent location.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring after the last frost date, pressing them gently into prepared soil in full sun to partial shade. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until seedlings are established.
Cut flowers for arrangements in the morning once blooms are fully open, selecting stems where the flower is at peak color with all petals fully unfurled. Use a sharp knife or garden shears to cut stems near the base, leaving foliage on the plant to support continued growth. Blooms typically last 2 to 3 weeks in a vase with fresh water.
Deadhead spent flowers by cutting back plant stems after blooming ends to encourage additional flushes of bloom. This is the key to getting the most color from your painted daisies over the season. In spring, remove any dead or winter-damaged stems before new growth emerges.
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“Painted daisy, formerly known scientifically as Chrysanthemum coccineum, hails from the mountainous regions of southwestern Asia. The plant has been cultivated for centuries, eventually finding its way into European and North American gardens where it became a cottage garden staple. Its common name 'pyrethrum' reflects another historical identity, though modern taxonomy places it firmly in the genus Tanacetum, distinguishing it from its notoriously invasive relative, Tanacetum vulgare (common tansy). The careful garden selection of color forms over generations has given us today's range of whites, pinks, and reds.”