Swan River daisy is a charming Australian wildflower that brings soft, lacy foliage and prolific blooms in periwinkle, rose, blue, and white to any garden from May through frost. This compact annual grows 12-18 inches tall and spreads equally wide, reaching its peak performance in cool-summer climates where it flowers so abundantly the foliage nearly disappears beneath the blossoms. Hardy from zones 2-11 (though some sources suggest it thrives as a perennial in zones 9-11), it tolerates drought once established and asks only for full sun and moderate water to flourish. The fragrant daisy-like flowers, typically 1-1.5 inches across, create drifts of color perfect for containers, cottage gardens, or landscape drifts.
10
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
18in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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Soft tangles of lacy, pinnately divided foliage create an airy texture that perfectly frames the profuse summer blooms in shades of lavender, blue, violet, yellow, and white. The flowers are genuinely fragrant and appear in such abundance they often completely hide the gray-green leaves. In cooler climates, this long-season bloomer performs as a reliable, low-maintenance annual that rewards you with continuous color from late spring until the first hard frost.
This is purely an ornamental flower, prized for its ability to create soft drifts of color in garden beds and containers. Plant it in mixed annual borders where its low, spreading habit and fragrant blooms add texture and visual interest throughout the summer season. It excels in containers where the cascading foliage spills attractively over the edges, and successive sowings every two weeks will extend the flowering display from late spring through fall.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Seeds sprout in 10-25 days at an ideal temperature of 70-75°F. Sow on the soil surface or barely press into the soil; light exposure may aid germination. Transplant seedlings after the last frost date when soil has warmed.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil temperatures have warmed. Space plants 10 inches apart to allow for mature spread. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days before planting to acclimate them to outdoor conditions.
Direct sow seeds in the garden after the last frost date. Sow on the soil surface or barely press into the soil. For extended bloom throughout the season, make successive sowings every two weeks into early summer.
Shear plants back lightly when bloom production begins to decline mid-summer. This encourages branching and a flush of new flowers that will carry the display through fall. Light shearing maintains the compact, bushy form and prevents legginess.
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“Swan River daisy is native to Western and South Australia, where it grows as a wildflower in warm, dry regions. Its common name references the Swan River in Western Australia, where it was first documented by European botanists in the 19th century. The species, Brachyscome iberidifolia, has since been refined into numerous hybrid strains and cultivars, with modern seed companies offering both pure species and hybrid selections that boast improved vigor, heat tolerance in some cases, and expanded color ranges including double-flowered forms. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds preserves this variety as an heirloom, emphasizing its long history in Australian gardens and its enduring appeal in cottage garden traditions.”