Margaret Seeds for Home Gardening

The Marguerite, or Paris daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens), is a tender perennial shrub from the Canary Islands that earns its place as a garden favourite. It forms a soft, bushy mound covered in classic daisy-like flower heads up to about 2 cm across, each crisp white petal ring framing a sunny yellow centre (some forms also bloom pink or yellow). Ideal for borders, pots and balcony displays, it brings a fresh cottage-garden charm wherever it grows.

Planting

Sow indoors about 6-8 weeks before transplanting. These seeds need light to sprout, so surface-sow or barely cover them and keep the surface evenly moist. At around 21C they germinate in roughly 8-14 days. Choose a full-sun spot with at least 6 hours of direct light and moderately fertile, well-drained soil (loam or sandy, pH 6.0-7.5). Space the shallow-rooted plants about 30-38 cm apart.

Fertilizing

Mix organic matter such as compost into the soil at planting. Through the active growing season, feed with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer once or twice a month at the label rate to support steady growth and abundant flowering.

Care

Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy; check 2-5 cm down and water when dry, watering pots more often. Avoid overwatering and overhead watering. Pinch tips for compactness and deadhead spent blooms; a mid-season shear renews flowering. Protect from frost (hardy only to about 1-5C) and watch for aphids, leaf miners, thrips and mildew.