Brachyscome

( brak - KISS - skoh - mee )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus includes annuals and perennials that need moderate to regular water and full sun. These shrubby flowers will attract butterflies to your garden, and form mounds of daisies that are great for mixed containers. Native to Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea, these plants grow up to 1 foot tall and 1.5 feet wide, and have finely divided leaves and profuse blooms in summer and springtime. They are commonly called Swan River Daisies, and are at home in informal, cottage, wildlife, or pollinator gardens. They blend well in mixed beds and borders, and can also be grown in containers.

Brachyscome Species and Varietals

The genus Brachyscome is a member of the plant family Asteraceae, and includes between 65 and 80 species. The best growing zones for these plants vary by species; see the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Brachyscome aculeata (Hill Daisy, Coarse Daisy)
This perennial herb forms tufts of foliage and is endemic to Australia. Flowers are daisy-form and white (sometimes pinkish) with yellow centers. These plants reach between 7 and 24 inches tall at maturity, blooming in October through April. Hill Daisy grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8a-10b.

Brachyscome ascendens (Border Ranges Daisy, Binna Burra Daisy)
This species, endemic to Australia, produces mauve daisy-form flowers with yellow centers. Plants reach about 14 inches tall, and flowering occurs between the months of April through December in their native range. The specific epithet ascendens refers to the climbing, clambering nature of the plant's stems (the Latin word ascendo means 'to mount, climb, rise, or grow'). Border Ranges Daisy grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.

Brachyscome basaltica (Swamp Daisy, Basalt Daisy, Basalt Daisybush)
This perennial herbaceous flowering plant is endemic to Australia, and prefers to grow in wet locations. Plants reach between 1 and 2 feet tall when mature, and produce white daisy flowers with yellow centers. Swamp Daisies do well in USDA hardiness zones 8a-11b.

Brachyscome decipiens (Field Daisy, Downs Daisy, Decipher Brachyscome, Decipher Daisy-Bush)
These small plants are native to Australia, and produce white daisy flowers with yellow centers. Undersides of petals have a lavender to violet hue. These plants grow well in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.
Brachyscome spp. Hybrids (Hybrid Swan River Daisy)
These varieties of Brachyscome are perennial plants that grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 14-24. Cultivars are listed and described below:
'City Lights'
​Light lavender-blue flowers
'Mauve Mystery'
With soft green foliage and mauve-white flowers.
'New Amethyst'
Dark purple blooms.
'Toucan Tango'
With green-centered blue flowers.

​Brachyscome iberidifolia (Swan River Daisy)
This annual flowering plant grows best in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 or Sunset growing zones 1-24, and has flowers that are usually blue, but at times can be white or pink depending on the varietal. Seeds should be sown in springtime. This species is hardy and adaptable to many growing conditions. Individual plants reach up to 12-18 inches tall with an equal spread.

​Brachyscome multifida (Cut-Leaved Daisy, Rocky Daisy, Hawkesbury Daisy)
This is a perennial species endemic to Australia that grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 14-24 and has blue flowers. These plants can be propagated easily by cuttings. They have an erect, matting growth habit that makes them ideal for border plantings, spilling over walls, or for growing in containers. These prefer full sun, though they can tolerate partial shade. Although they are frost-tolerant, they will suffer some foliage burn during particularly cold snaps.

Brachyscome nivalis (Snow Daisy)
This species is endemic to Australia, and produces mostly white daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. Foliage is green and deeply lobed. Individual plants reach up to a foot tall when in bloom, and flowers are borne singly atop thin stems. These plants grow naturally in rocky sites, grasslands, and woodlands in their native range. These daisies grow well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 as a perennial and in cooler zones as an annual.

Brachyscome scapigera (Tufted Daisy, Cut-Leaved Daisy, Cut-Leaf Daisy)
These perennial Australian natives form upright shrubby plants to about 16 inches tall. They grow well as perennial plants in USDA hardiness zones 8a-11b. Foliage is deep green and linear, and flowers are mauve to white in color with yellow centers. These plants bloom between the months of November and March in their native habitat

Brachyscome segmentosa (Lord Howe Island Daisy, Mountain Daisy, Segmented Daisy, Cutleaf Daisy)
This species can reach up to 16 inches tall when mature and in bloom, and produces bright green lobed leaves. Flowers form in single terminal inflorescences and are typically white, though they can be shades of pink or lavender, as well. Cultivar 'Valencia' is a popular garden ornamental. Lord Howe Island Daisy grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11.

Caring for Brachyscome

These daisies are typically grown from seed, but may also be available from certain reputable nurseries as specimens. Plant Brachyscome daisies in full sun exposure in well-draining soil. These daisies should receive between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best performance and flowering. Swan River Daisies can tolerate a wide range of soils, as long as they are well draining with a pH of between 5.5 and 6.3 (slightly acidic).  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 the 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 issues with mildews and other fungi. Once established, these plants can tolerate short periods of drought.

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 flowers 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. If plants are becoming floppy or leggy towards the end of springtime, cut them back by about a third to encourage a more bushy, sturdy growth habit. These plants are perennials that can be expected to survive in the garden for 2-5 years before needing to be replaced; in their native habitat they can live upwards of 10-50 years.

Propagation

Brachyscome daisies can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Swan River Daisies, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Brachyscome by Cutting
  1. 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.
  2. 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 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. 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 four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. 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, 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 Brachyscome by Seed
  1. 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.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out, you can harvest the seeds. 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; they will begin to release the seeds. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your 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 10-21 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.
  4. 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

Swan River Daisies have very few pest and disease issues in the garden, though they can suffer from time to time from:
  • Powdery Mildew
For more information on these issues, including how to treat them, consult the following pages:
​

Gallery

Brachyscome plants are at home in pollinator, informal, or woodland-style gardens.
Here, a mixed bed is adorned with Swan River Daisy, Conostylis, and Schoenia.
Brachyscome plants have been bred to produce various shades of pink, purple, blue, and white flowers.

Videos

All about Brachyscome plants.
A growing guide for these flowers.
How to cultivate these flowers in your garden.

Resources

How to Grow Swan River Daisy
How to Plant and Grow Swan River Daisy
Wikipedia: Brachyscome
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 203, Brachyscome (Swan River Daisy)