Felicia Amelloides

Blue Daisy / Felicia / Blue Marguerite

Botanical Name: Felicia amelloides
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: South Africa (coastal/winter-rainfall regions)
Plant Type: Evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial/subshrub (mounding, spreading)

Overview

A sun-loving, long-flowering blue daisy that thrives in Adelaide/SA. Forms tidy mounds with small, slightly fleshy leaves and masses of sky-blue daisies with golden centres for much of the year—heaviest from spring to late autumn. Excellent for borders, rockeries, retaining walls and patio pots; copes well with heat, wind and second-line coastal conditions if drainage is good.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.3–0.6 m H × 0.4–0.8 m W
• Growth Rate: 20–40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Small, semi-succulent green to grey-green leaves; neat, bushy habit
• Flowers: Sky-blue daisies, yellow centres; peak spring–autumn, light off-season bloom in mild winters
  
• Seasonal Interest: Very long flowering window; neat evergreen texture year-round
• Wildlife Value: Nectar/pollen for bees, hoverflies and butterflies
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established, heat- and wind-tolerant, second-line coastal OK; light frost (protect from hard frosts in the Hills); dislikes winter waterlogging
• Planting Density: Edging: 3 per metre (≈30–40 cm centres); Mass: 6–9 plants/m²; Containers: 20–30 cm pots; tip-prune to keep compact
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic to cats & dogs (ingesting any plant may upset tummies)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (best bloom) to light part shade (fewer flowers)
• Soil: Free-draining sandy/loam; thrives on neutral–alkaline (calcareous) Adelaide soils; raise/mound on clay to avoid winter wet feet
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (weekly in heatwaves); minimal in winter
• Maintenance: Regular dead-heading or a light shear after flushes to re-bud; tip-prune to prevent woodiness; light feed in spring (avoid heavy nitrogen); refresh tired plants after a few seasons by division/cuttings
• Lifespan: 3–5+ years (longer in free-draining sites)
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA—excellent on Adelaide Plains and second-line coastal; choose a frost-sheltered, well-drained spot in the Hills
• Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline (tolerates slightly acidic if very free-draining)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Rockeries, retaining walls & spill-over edges for blue accents
• Sunny border edging and cottage/Mediterranean mixes
• Containers for courtyards and alfresco spaces (bee-friendly colour)

Why You Will Love It

Cheerful, true-blue daisies for months, tough in Adelaide heat, and easy to keep tidy—perfect for bright borders, rockeries and pots with modest water needs.