Argyranthemum

( ar - jur - AN - thuh - mum )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Marguerite, Marguerite Daisy, or Dill Daisy, this genus of flowering perennial plants contains species native to the Canary Islands, the Savage Islands, and Madeira. These flowers need full sun and regular water, and form a neat mound of bright green on 3-foot woody stems with white, yellow or pink daisies. Great for containers, borders, and mass displays, these daisy flowers set out in spring can form a 4 foot tall by 4 foot wide mound by summertime, and will bloom for most of the year. There are many varieties, including those with single or double flowers, and varying foliage and flower color. Take care when planting these flowering shrublets in the landscape, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested and certain species are invasive in some areas.

Argyranthemum species and varietals

The genus Argyranthemum is a member of the plant family Asteraceae, and includes about 23 species. The plants in this genus are sometimes included in the genus Chrysanthemum. Growing zones vary depending on the species cultivated; for more information, see the species descriptions below. To

Argyranthemum foeniculaceum (Canary Island Marguerite, Dill Daisy, Lance-Leaf Daisy, Tenerife Daisy, Paris Daisy)
This species is native to the Canary Islands in Spain, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental flowering plant. It is grown as an evergreen herbaceous perennial in warmer climates (USDA hardiness zones 9-11), and as an annual elsewhere. Flowers are daisy-form and have white rays and yellow to orange-yellow centers. It is in flower from springtime into summer. Considered invasive in coastal areas of California and Australia.

Argyranthemum frutescens (Paris Daisy, Marguerite, Marguerite Daisy)
This Canary Island native is widely cultivated as a garden ornamental and has naturalized in Italy and southern California (sometimes considered a locally invasive weed). This plant forms a globe-shaped shrub with normally white flowers that have a nice fragrance. There are many cultivars of this species, including 'Butterfly', with butter-yellow flowers. Perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10-11 and grown as an annual elsewhere.

Argyranthemum gracile (Tenerife White Marguerite)
This native of Tenerife and the Canary Islands has a popularly cultivated garden variety 'Chelsea Girl', which reaches up to 2 feet tall when in bloom. Flowers are small and daisy-form, with white rays and golden yellow centers. These plants are prized for their aromatic foliage and showy flowers. These plants do well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.

Agyranthemum maderense (Madeira Marguerite, Pale-Flowered Madeira Marguerite)
This species is not native to Madeira, but to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, and produces light yellow to white flowers over a long season. Best in USDA growing zones 10 and 11 as a perennial, and elsewhere as an annual.

Caring for Argyranthemum

Take care when planting these flowering shrublets in the landscape, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested and certain species are invasive in some areas. Plant your Marguerite Daisy in full sun exposure in well-draining soil. These daisies should receive between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best flowering. Marguerites can tolerate a wide range of soils, as long as they are well draining but perform best in a sandy loam soil. If local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installation, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature. Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the flowering and active growing seasons. Water in the morning, and avoid watering from overhead, as this can cause fungal issues.

These flowers prefer temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and can tolerate some extra heat but will struggle and fade in extremely hot temperatures or in areas with strong reflected heat. Provide plants grown in particularly warm climates with some protection from the intense rays of the late afternoon sun. If growing in a frost-prone area, take proper precautions to protect these plants during times of freezing temperatures by mulching around the base of the plant and possibly covering with frost cloth if necessary to carry it over the cold season. Fertilize plants yearly by applying organic compost around their base after pulling back mulch. Work compost into the soil, water it in a bit, and then replace mulch. These daisies are not heavy feeders, and will not require additional fertilizer to grow well. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage more blooms to pop, and pinch back leggy growth to promote bushier growth and increased flowering. Plants can be lightly sheared in early springtime to trigger a flush of new growth. Argyranthemum plants typically live for 3-5 years in the garden before being pulled, composted, and replaced.

Growing Argyranthemum in Containers
Argyranthemum plants do well in containers, providing brightly-colored flowers and delicate green foliage to patios, balconies, and walkways. Choose a container with adequate drainage holes that is about two inches larger in diameter and depth than the root ball or nursery pot. Fill with potting mix amended with perlite or organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient load.. Fill in around the outside of the root ball, allowing soil to settle but not packing it down. Apply a layer of mulch on top to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly; Argyranthemum flowers planted in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those in the ground. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage and deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms to form. Every few years, check the bottom of the container to make sure that roots are not growing through the drainage holes. If this is happening, it is a good indicator that the plant should be potted up to a larger size.

Propagation

The easiest and most straightforward ways to propagate Marguerite Daisies is by cutting or through harvesting and growing seed. To propagate your Argyranthemum (Marguerite Daisy), follow the instructions below.

Propagating Argyranthemum by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch long portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch just below a leaf node and strip all but the top two or three pairs of leaves. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone (optional), and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about three to four weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Argyranthemum by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on these plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. Once seeds have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. Argyranthemum seeds will remain viable for between 2 and 4 years after being harvested when stored properly; they should be placed in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry area for long-term storage.
Water the prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place seeds about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with a spray bottle. Place the tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-28 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Argyranthemum, or Marguerite Daisy, plants can themselves be considered garden pests in some areas; they are labeled as weedy and invasive, mainly in California and Australia. Check with local authorities before planting. Marguerite Daisies can have issues in the landscape due to the following pests and diseases: