How to Plant and Grow Marguerite Daisy

Native to the Canary Islands, 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 of 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 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but they also prefer full sun. Look for a site with average, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sun each day. Given their shrubby appearance, marguerite daisies are great for mass planting, borders, and large containers.

How and When to Plant Marguerite Daisy

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

Before planting, work about 2 inches of compost and mulch into the soil of your designated spot to improve drainage and give your marguerite daisies the nutrients they will need to thrive. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball of the plant. Gently loosen the roots to free them from the root ball and then place the plant in the hole and backfill. Tamp down the soil and water thoroughly. It's helpful to create a donut-like ring around the plant to direct the water where you want it to go. If you are planting multiple marguerite daisy plants, make sure they are about 12 to 15 inches apart from each other.

Marguerite Daisy Care Tips

Caring for marguerite daisies is pretty simple. They need cool weather, lots of sun, consistent watering, and a little pruning to stay healthy, but thrive in almost any kind of well-draining soil.

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 are native to the rich, volcanic soils of the Canary Islands, but can grow in almost any well-draining soil—whether it be neutral, acid, or alkaline.

Water new marguerite daisy plants once a week until they are well-established. After that, they’ll only need about 1 inch of water per week unless the weather is very hot. Watch for signs of fungal issues because overwatering or waterlogged, poor-draining soil can lead to mold, root rot, and mildew.

Temperature and Humidity

Marguerite daisies love climates that mimic the sunny, but cool climates of the Mediterranean. They are frost-tender and will die in temperatures that dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit unless brought inside. In especially hot weather (above 70 degrees day and night) marguerite daisies will likely stop producing blooms. If this happens, trim off any spent blooms and the plants may bloom again when temperatures cool more regularly.  

Fertilizer

If you are growing your marguerite daisies in well-draining, organically-rich soil, you shouldn’t need fertilizer. In fact, using it could result in leggy plants instead of bushy plants. That said, if your soil lacks the necessary nutrients, supplementing it with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer once or twice a month may help. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.

Pruning

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

Potting and Repotting Marguerite Daisy

Marguerite daisies make ideal container plants if they are given large enough pots to flourish in. Be sure to check your marguerite’s plant care label for height and space requirements before potting it as some varieties can reach heights of 2 to 3 feet tall.

Spring (after the final frost of the season) is the best time of the year for potting and repotting marguerite daisies. If you are transplanting yours, fill a pot slightly larger than the plant's previous container with fresh potting mix. Dig a hole in the potting soil , 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. Use neem oil to get rid of pests in your garden safely and effectively.

Overwatering can cause root rot, and too much heat can cause them to deteriorate quickly.

How to Propagate Marguerite Daisy

Increase your stock of marguerite daisies with stem cuttings. 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 a 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.

You can also grow marguerite daisies from seed, but you will want to start them indoors before the last frost (approximately 6 to 8 weeks before you wish to plant the seedlings outside). Place the seeds on top of a moist starter mix and lightly cover them with more mix. You won’t need a lot of special tricks to germinate the seeds, just regular watering, well-draining soil that is kept around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and a sunny spot for the seeds to sprout.  

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.

'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.

'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.