Blue Daisy is a herbaceous perennial, aster-like, small shrub. It is a member of the Asteraceae family and a native to South Africa. While it can be grown as a perennial in frost-free climates (USDA zones 10 and 11), it is more commonly grown as an annual in more northern zones. Blue Daisy grows to about 2 feet high and 2 feet wide and its sky blue blossoms with yellow centers appear through the summer. The leaves resemble leaves in the genus Amellus (also native to South Africa), hence the species name. The genus name honors Felix, a German official at Regensburg, who died in 1846. Blue Daisy grows best in full sun with average, consistently moist, well-drained soils. These plants do not tolerate wet soils or hot and humid summers, and when planted outdoors in hot climates, flowering declines or stops at mid-summer. Alternatively, you can purchase plants in cell packs from nurseries in spring or start seed indoors about 6 to 8 weeks prior to last spring frost date. This approach allows plants to produce blooms before hot summer weather. If your summers are cooler, seeds can be sown outdoors in the ground around the last spring frost date. Cuttings can also be taken in late summer for overwintering. Blue Daisy can be grown as a ground cover, but is probably more appropriate as an ornamental. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known insect or disease problems. Aphids and spider mites can be troublesome. Root rot may occur in wet soils. Watch for botrytis.
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.
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Rough, hairy, ovate green leaves (to 1 inch long) are relatively large, but vary in size.
Flower color
Blue; Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Daisy-like flowers (to 1 1/2 inches diameter) featuring sky blue rays and yellow centers. Blossoms appear June through August where summers are cooler. In hot southern summers, flowering usually declines or stops by mid-summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Dark brown, dry, one-seeded fruits called cypselae are inverted egg-shaped, about 0.16 of an inch long, the surface slightly scaly, and covered with short hairs.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Long, green to dark reddish stalks.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Walkways
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#blue flowers #daisy-like #tender perennial #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #annual #subshrub #bushy #groundcover
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage; Twospotted Spider Mites on Landscape Plants