A Guide to the Native Daisies of Australia

Even on dark and dreary days, seeing a group of daisies growing in the garden will always cheer you up with their bright and happy flowers.

Here’s our guide to the native daisies of Australia.

Brachyscome angustifolia

This species is found in open forests in coastal and alpine areas of Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania.

B. angustifolia is a low-growing plant that only reaches a height of 30cm. The flowers are commonly pink or mauve and around 2 cm in diameter. 

You can grow this daisy in full sun or semi-shade.

Brachyscome formosa

This similar species is only naturally found in a small area in the central west of NSW. It’s also commonly known as the Pilliga daisy.

This plant also has lovely pink flowers that are around 2.5 cm in diameter. These flowers appear mainly in spring and summer. The plant has a suckering habit and will spread quite readily in your garden.

Brachyscome multifida

I remember growing this gorgeous species when I lived in Queensland. It occurs naturally right up the east coast from Victoria to southern Queensland.

This is a hardy ground cover and produces purple flowers that are around 2 cm in diameter. Some varieties can also have white or pink flowers. 

It can be grown in full sun or partial shade and prefers moist soil. This species can even grow in heavy clay.

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

This species is commonly referred to as yellow buttons and is widespread around the southern half of the country.

This plant grows into a shrub with a height of 0.3 metres and a spread of up to 1.5 metres.

The flowers grow as clusters with the individual flowers being bright yellow and around 1.5 cm in diameter. In the wild, this species can be highly variable as it can adapt to local growing conditions.

Chrysocephalum baxteri

Commonly known as white everlasting or fringed everlasting, this species is mainly found in woodlands and forests in southern NSW, Victoria, and southern Australia as well as on the islands in Bass Strait.

The flowers appear on long stems and have white bracts and bright yellow centres. They are around 2 to 4 cm in diameter. 

This species prefers to grow in full sun and likes moist soil that is free-draining. Plants should be cut back after flowering to ensure a nice tidy growth habit.

Ixodia achillaeoides

This species grows naturally in forests and coastal areas of western Victoria and South Australia including Kangaroo Island. 

The plant produces white flowers in clusters on the ends of tall stems. These are only quite small with a diameter of around 1.5 cm. They make excellent dried flowers.

This species prefers to grow in areas where summers are fairly dry and can’t handle high humidity well. 

Lawrencella rosea

This species is one for our Western Australian gardeners because it grows naturally around woodlands in the south. 

It has stunning rosy pink flowers with bright yellow centres. These can be up to 4 cm in diameter. They make excellent dried flowers.

The plant prefers a drier summer climate and a sunny position in the garden.

Leucochrysum albicans

This is another native species that occurs naturally on the tablelands along the east coast and also in Tasmania.

The species has a number of recognised subspecies but most flower during spring and summer. Individual varieties can have flowers with either white or yellow bracts and yellow to orange centres.

For temperate areas, look for sub-species L. albicans spp albicans as this one is popular in cultivation.

Olearia ciliata

This species is more commonly known as fringed daisy bush and is found naturally in southern Australia in areas with sandy soils.

It grows into a small shrub and can reach a height of 0.3 metres. The flowers are mauve or purple and around 2.5 cm in diameter.

Once established, this plant is quite drought-tolerant and can handle moderate frosts.

Rhodanthe chlorocephala

This is another species that is native to southern WA but it can also occur in the southern part of South Australia.

A popular sub-species is R. chlorocephala spp rosea. It has stunning flowers that can be up to 6cm in diameter. The flowers feature pink or white papery bracts and pale green centres.

Xerochrysum subundulatum

This pretty orange-yellow daisy is only found naturally in the alpine regions of Victoria, NSW and Tasmania. Plants can reach a height of 30 cm but can spread up to 1 metre in width.

Flower heads appear on tallish stems in late spring through to autumn. This species is particularly frost-tolerant and prefers to grow in colder climates. 

Xerochrysum viscosum

Commonly found west of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria and NSW, this species is a delight to grow. It is commonly known as yellow paper daisy or sticky everlasting.

This species is low-growing and can be either an annual or biennial plant. This means that it will complete its life cycle in one or two years and needs to be replanted. 

The flowers are outstanding with their yellow papery bracts and bright yellow to orange centres. These can appear in late winter right through to spring. 

Native Daisy FAQ