daisies

By Nancy Garrison, Horticulture Advisor
From Daisy Project - summer of 1992
U.C. Bay Area Research and Extension Center
Revised 12/14/92

Master Gardener volunteers from Santa Clara County planted and grew 36 different varieties of daisy-type flowers to provide a demonstration of the range of plant material available for use in the landscape. The top choices compiled from our field screening were based on insect and disease resistance, low maintenance in regards to deadheading, overall attractiveness and long bloom season. We had a serious problem in the field with Sclerotinia, which is a soil-borne fungi. It killed or severely affected many of our varieties. The top performers included the following:

Cladanthus arabicus (Palm Springs Daisy) -- Attractive, compact, but airy looking mounding plant with gray-green feathery foliage, 18" tall by 2' wide. Looks a bit like chamomile. Flowers are golden yellow about 1" across, sparsely covering foliage. Died out early in the summer.

Dahlberg Daisy (Yellow) Thymophylla tenuiloba -- Long blooming summer annual ground cover with bright yellow flowers 1' across completely covering ferny foliage. Plants form very neat uniform mounds 10-12" tall and 2' across. Minimum incidence of disease. Little water stress after 3 weeks of no irrigation. The purple variety died early in the season. May have been due to Sclerotinia.

Echinacea purpurea 'Bravado' -- Spectacular, late summer blooming cone flowers on long stiff erect stems--great for cutting. The 3-1/2" to 4" wide lavender-pink blooms, with beautiful, burnt orange discs, have petals that are more horizontal than drooping in habit. No evidence of insect or disease problems. Great bee and beneficial insect attractant!