Brachyscome Multifida 'White'

White Cut-leaf Daisy / White Rocky Daisy / White Hawkesbury Daisy

Botanical Name: Brachyscome multifida 'White'
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Australia
Plant Type: Evergreen groundcover / perennial

Overview

A tough, long-flowering native daisy forming a low, spreading mat of finely cut mid-green foliage topped with clean white daisies (yellow centres). Blooms for months in SA—spring through autumn, with spot colour outside peak. Ideal for edging, rockeries, between pavers and in pots, and great for mass planting.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.15–0.25 m H × 0.4–0.6 m W (spreading)
• Growth Rate: 20-40 (spread) cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Finely divided, mid-green, tidy mat
• Flowers: White daisies with yellow eyes; very long blooming (spring–autumn)
  
• Seasonal Interest: Extra-long flowering with a brief winter lull
• Wildlife Value: Attracts bees and beneficial insects
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, second-line coastal-tolerant; light frost (protect from hard frost)
• Planting Density: Mass planting: 5–7 plants/m² (for quick coverage); Edging/paths: 3 per metre (≈ 30–40 cm centres); Between pavers/rockeries: plant to suit gaps (≈ 25–30 cm apart)
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats & dogs (ingestion may cause mild tummy upset)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to light part shade (best flowering in sun)
• Soil: Well-drained sandy/loam; mound or improve drainage on heavier soils
• 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: Shear lightly after big flushes to keep compact and reblooming; deadhead as desired; light feed in early spring; avoid wet feet
• Lifespan: Typically 3–5+ years (short-lived perennial; easy to refresh by cuttings)
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA, incl. sheltered coastal
• Soil pH: Neutral (tolerates slightly acidic–slightly alkaline)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Edge paths and garden beds for a crisp white ribbon of colour
• Rockeries and between stepping stones for soft fill
• Containers and hanging baskets for cascading white daisies (not a privacy hedge)

Why You Will Love It

A cheerful, low, fast-covering native that flowers for months, shrugs off heat and wind, and keeps maintenance to a minimum