When to Start Swan River Daisy Seeds
A charming annual that originates from Australia and belongs to the Asteraceae family, the Swan River daisy (Brachycome iberidifolia) grows 12 to 18 inches tall and produces tiny white, blue, rose or mauve flowers that have a daisy-like appearance with black or yellow centers. Swan River daisy has a mounding habit that makes this annual excellent for hanging baskets and for edging tall borders. Swan River daisy seeds can be started indoors or you can sow seeds directly into the garden.
Starting Seeds Indoors
You can start Swan River daisy seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date for your area. Germination usually takes about 10 to 18 days when kept in a room with a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the danger of frost has passed, you can transplant the seedlings outdoors, spacing them six inches apart.
Starting Seeds Outdoors
Sow Swan River daisy seeds directly outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, spacing seeds or thinning later seedlings to six inches apart. For continuous blooms that last throughout summer, sow more seeds every two weeks -- seeds sown in midsummer produce fall blooms. Sow the seeds in an area with full sun and well-drained soil. Once flowers appear, they generally last two to four weeks.
Swan River daisy is a low-care plant and tolerates drought. You can shear back spent blooms to encourage new growth. As with other annuals, fertilize the Swan River daisy using a 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer twice a week and avoid overhead watering that can lead to fungal problems. To avoid problems with root rot, make sure the plant has adequate drainage so the roots are not sitting in soggy soil.
Swan River Daisy and Insects
Swan River daisy has no serious insect pests or diseases, but you may want to watch for slugs and snails, which can chew on plant leaves, leaving holes. These pests feed at night, so it is best to go out at night or early in the morning to catch them. Placing snail and slug traps in the garden and disposing of them daily can help control the problem. The plant has mildly fragrant blossoms that attract butterflies.
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Brachyscome Iberidifolia
- The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardening Volume 3; T.H. Everett, Editor
- University of Rhode Island GreenShare Factsheet: Gardening with Annuals
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Snails and Slugs
Based in Indiana, Molly Allman holds a B.A. in professional writing. She works as both a writer and author and enjoys writing articles on many different topics. She specializes in topics concerning health, crafts, family and lifestyles. Her fiction writing appears in "Bewildering Stories," "The Other Herald" and "Spectacular Speculations."