How to Plant and Grow Marguerite Daisy

The marguerite daisy is a mounded and shrubby annual, but can be grown as a perennial in zones 10-11. Marguerite daisy loves cool weather and blooms best in most areas in zones 8-11 in spring and fall, though it will continue to bloom through the summer in regions with milder temperatures. Even when it's not in bloom, the dark green, finely cut foliage looks gorgeous against just about any light-color flower.

Where to Plant Marguerite Daisy

Marguerite daisies prefer cooler temperatures that don't go above 70º. Plant them in full sun.

How and When to Plant Marguerite Daisy

Marguerite daisies bloom best in spring and fall. Plant them in spring for flowering through the summer fall, with the best blooms during the cooler periods of their growing season.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root of the plant. Gently pull the roots to free them from the root ball. Place in the hole and backfill, watering after tamping down the soil. It's helpful to create a donut-like ring around the plant to direct the water where you want it to go. Add mulch.

Marguerite Daisy Care Tips

Caring for marguerite daisies is pretty simple. They need cool weather and lots of sun.

Light

Since marguerite daisies are temperate plants, they need at least six hours of sun a day. If you live in a place where it gets very hot in the afternoons during the summer, locate them where there's afternoon shade to protect them from high heat.

Soil and Water

Marguerites need soil that drains well, but it doesn't matter if it's acid, alkaline, or neutral. As long as the soil isn't waterlogged, regular feeding will usually make up for soil lacking in nutrients.

Water marguerite daisies when they get dry but don't overwater, as that can cause root rot. When the weather is very hot, marguerites may need more water than usual.

Temperature and Humidity

Marguerite daisies prefer cool weather below 70º but won't survive freezing weather. Keep them on the cool side by giving them afternoon shade in hotter regions.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer isn't needed for marguerite daisies, and using it can result in plants that are leggy instead of bushy.

Pruning

Prune marguerite daisies by deadheading spent flowers and cutting away dead foliage to promote new growth and increase the bushiness of the shrubs.

Potting and Repotting Marguerite Daisy

Spring is the best time of the year for potting marguerite daisies after the final frost of the season. Dig a hole in the potting soil slightly larger than the previous container, water thoroughly, and add the plant. Make sure the container is well-draining, and add more water to set the plant.

Pests and Problems

Marguerite daisies aren't plagued by most pests, although common garden insects, such as aphids, mites, and thrips, may attack them sometimes. Overwatering can cause root rot, and too much heat can cause them to deteriorate quickly.

How to Propagate Marguerite Daisy

In late summer, take a two to four-inch cutting from healthy stems that aren't flowering. Strip the lower inch of leaves and dip it in rooting hormone. Plant the stem in potting soil. Put the potted branch in a place that gets indirect sunlight and keep it moist. You'll know the cutting has taken root when new leaves appear. Transfer to your garden in the early spring after the last frost.

Types of Marguerite Daisy

'Fireball Red' marguerite daisy

'Fireball Red' offers double red flowers on a 1-foot-tall plant.

'Lipstick' marguerite daisy

Double hot-pink flowers grace this 1-foot-tall plant.

'Madeira Deep Rose' marguerite daisy

'Madeira Deep Rose' bears rich, rose-colored flowers with dark green, threadlike foliage on 1-foot-tall plants.

'Madeira Pink' marguerite daisy

Lighter pink than some of the other popular cultivars, 'Madeira Pink' entices with its double flowers on 1-foot-tall plants.

'Madeira Primrose' marguerite daisy

'Madeira Primrose' brings gracefulness to the garden with its soft primrose-yellow blooms and abundance of flowers on 1-foot-tall plants.

'Spring Bouquet' marguerite daisy

'Spring Bouquet' starts out with soft pink blooms that fade to yellow-and-white, giving it a multicolor look. It grows 1 foot tall and wide.

Marguerite Daisy Companion Plants

Begonia

Perennial in mild temperatures, begonias form mounds of flowers with green, waxy leaves.

Dusty Miller

Dusty miller's silvery color works with many shades of flowers, and its ability to thrive in most climates makes it easy to grow and care for.

Snapdragon

Snapdragon is a cool-weather annual that grows tall with many color options.