White African Daisy is an annual in the sunflower family that is native to Southern Africa. This plant blooms with many showy white ray flowers during the growing season. The flowers close at night and on cloudy days. It prefers cool-weather summer areas and has difficulty with the humidity of the SE. Use this plant in the front of the border, in small groupings, along walkways or in containers. Plant in full sun in fertile well-drained soil. Take care not to get the leaves wet when watering to prevent rot. This plant is unusual in that it forms 2 types of seeds. The ones formed byt the center disc flowers germinate first. The ones formed by the rays have a delayed germination time. This protects the plant from unfavorable environmental conditions.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Obovate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3.5-inch long green narrow obovate to oblanceolate leaves with dentate margins
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers have white rays that surround yellow-brown disc flowers. The rays are purple-tinged near the base giving it a ringed look and on the undersides.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The achenes formed by the disc flowers are winged. The ones formed by the ray flowers are oval and flat.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southern Africa
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Small groups
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #long bloom time #border front #white flowers #annual #container plant #full sun tolerant #mass planting #walkway