Article relevant: March-June

A wealth of marguerites

Marguerites are the harbinger of summer. They are unique in all types of pots, containers and boxes, as well as in garden beds and for cutting.

A theme with many variations
All marguerites are composite flowers featuring two kinds of flowers combined in a ”basket”. There are the barren ray florets which form a wreath round the small, fertile or barren disc florets which sit closely together in the middle of the flower head.

On the classic marguerite, the ray florets are white and the small flowers in the middle bright yellow. The yellow variety where both the ray and disc florets are yellow is almost as known as the classic white Argyranthemum frutescens. 

In recent years, new Australian varieties have joined the old familiar ones. So now there are different white, yellow and romantic pink shades to choose from, as well as new varieties of Argyranthemum frutescens with a larger centre than on the normal marguerites, and in shapes that are more or less full.

The old varieties are distinguished by a wealth of flowers at the beginning of summer followed by a more sparse production of flowers. The Australian varieties are remarkable in that they are everflowering throughout the summer.

The bedding plant that lives for years
Even though most people grow marguerites as annual bedding plants, they are perennials which can be shaped into small standards as the stem grows woody. This way, many of them can live for years as long as they are kept in a bright, cool position in the winter. 

Placement and care
Argyranthemum frutescens requires lots of sunlight and should be watered and fed amply in the growing period. In the winter, they should be kept slightly dry, however the root-ball must not dry out completely. It is important to remove flowers as they fade in order for the plant to keep on producing flowers.