Felicia

( fel - ISS - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This group of shrubs, perennials, and annuals need full sun, and are native to South Africa. They have a profuse bloom of blue daisy flowers from spring through fall that attract butterflies in droves. Rosette leaves are generally evergreen, and stems are mostly leafless towards the top. Take care when planting these shrubs in your garden, as they can be a bit invasive and choke out other planting bed residents. Felicia is useful in mixed beds as well as for forming borders, and can also be grown in containers or large window boxes.

felicia Species and Varietals

Felicia is a genus of 85 species of small herbaceous shrubs and perennial plants that is a member of the family Asteraceae. The genus is named in honor of Italian-Swiss scientist Fortunato Bartolomeo de Felice. Growing zones for Felicia depend on the species. Refer to the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Felicia amelioides (Aster amelloides, Agathaea coelestis) (Blue Marguerite)
This perennial species tends to be woody, and is treated as a summer annual in zones 8, 9, and 14-24, and as a winter annual in zone 13. They reach 1.5 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide, with fragrant leaves and a profusion of small yellow-centered sky blue daisies. A form with white-variegated leaves is available. Dead-head continuously through the blooming season to keep the plant neat. Grown best in pots or containers, where it can spill over a wall or edge of raised bed.

Felicia bergeriana (Kingfisher Daisy)
Annual that grows in zones 1-24. This freely-branching plant has greyish green leaves and bright blue flowers that bloom all summer long. Great for pots, window boxes, borders, and edges. Requires regular water for best performance.

​Felicia fruticosa (Aster fruticosus) (Shrub Aster)
This evergreen shrub grows best in zones 8, 9, and 14-24. Bushy and dense, this shrub gets to 2-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Dark green leaves and profuse, lavender flowers bloom in springtime. Needs little to moderate water and should be pruned after blooms expire to keep the plant looking neat and encourage more blooms to pop.

Caring for and pruning Felicia shrubs

Felicia can grow in almost any soil as long as it is well-draining. These plants are even great in areas of the garden where other plants won't grow due to poor soil and exposure to wind. They prefer to be planted in full sun, but enjoy some afternoon shade in warmer climates. Plant 10-12 inches apart if planting in masses for best coverage. Provide enough water to keep the soil relatively moist, but do not allow the soil to become soggy as the plant establishes itself. Let soil dry out between waterings when plants are established. Deadhead regularly during blooming season to neaten appearance and encourage reblooms. In  midsummer when the plant is beginning to look a little haggard, prune lightly. In late summer, cut the plant back hard for a new push of fresh foliage. Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer each month during spring and summertime.

Propagation

Felicia 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 plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Felicia 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. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring, 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 off all but the top pair 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, 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 shrub.

Propagating Felicia 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 Ziploc bag filled with potting soil, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds in mid- to late fall, cutting flower heads off the plant and placing them in a paper bag. Once the seeds have been released, place them in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place until you are ready to sow.
  3. Felicia seeds need a cold snap to germinate well, so they'll need to be cold-stratified before planting. Place your harvested seeds in growing medium that is lightly moist inside of a Ziploc bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator, and leave it there for about three weeks. After this, remove the seeds from the bag and separate them from the planting medium.
  4. In mid- to late-winter or early spring (6-8 weeks before the last frost of the year), 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 4-6 weeks 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.
  5. 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 weather warms and your propagated Felicia can be planted in its forever home in your garden.

Problems and Pests

These plants are pest and disease resistant.
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Gallery

Felicia can either be grown in-ground or in a container.
Felicia can grow in nooks and crannies - places where other plants would struggle.
Use Felicia as a border for patios and grass areas.

Videos

A quick guide to growing Felicia plants.
How to prune your Felicia shrub.

Resources

Felicia amelloides (Blue Felicia)
How to Grow Felicia Plants in Your Garden
How to Grow a Blue Kingfisher Daisy Plant
Wikipedia: Felicia (plant)
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 319 - 320, Felicia
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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