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Brachyscome spathulata

spoon daisy

Asteraceae Southeastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 7–9

Overview

Brachyscome spathulata is a tufted perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, forming clumps 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall and 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) wide. The spoon-shaped basal leaves are 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long with broad, sometimes toothed tips that taper to a narrow base, giving the plant its common name. Slender, mostly leafless stems each carry a single daisy flowerhead 0.8-1.4 inches (2-3.5 cm) across, with mauve, blue, or white ray florets surrounding a yellow central disc. Flowering occurs from spring into summer. The species grows in southeastern Australia in montane and subalpine grassland, open woodland, and grassy slopes on moist, well-drained soils. It withstands cold, frost, and snow in its upland habitat and dies back to the rootstock in winter, reshooting in spring. In cultivation it requires a sunny to lightly shaded position with moist but well-drained soil. Growth is clumping rather than spreading, and plants are propagated by division or seed. Hot, dry lowland conditions shorten its life and reduce flowering. The flowers attract native bees and other small pollinators.

Native Range

Brachyscome spathulata occurs in southeastern Australia, across New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It grows in montane and subalpine grassland, open woodland, and grassy slopes on moist, well-drained soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted in rock gardens, cottage borders, alpine troughs, and containers in cool districts. Suited to moist native gardens and the front of mixed borders. The daisy flowers attract native bees and small pollinators over a long season.

How to Identify

Identify Brachyscome spathulata by its tuft of spoon-shaped basal leaves with broad, sometimes toothed tips tapering to a narrow base. Slender, mostly leafless stems each carry a single daisy flowerhead 0.8-1.4 inches (2-3.5 cm) across with mauve to white rays and a yellow disc. The spoon-shaped basal leaves and single-headed stems separate it from cut-leaved Brachyscome spp. species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'

Width/Spread8" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs from spring into summer, around October to February in its native range. Each slender stem carries a single daisy flowerhead with mauve, blue, or white rays around a yellow disc. Flowering is heaviest in cool, moist conditions.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

mauve to white with yellow centre

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Brachyscome spathulata in full sun to light shade in moist but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Water through dry spells, as the plant favours consistently moist upland soils and declines in hot, dry positions. It tolerates cold, frost, and snow and dies back over winter before reshooting in spring. Division of clumps in autumn or early spring propagates the plant and renews older tufts. A light feed in spring supports flowering. Poor drainage in winter can cause crown rot.

Pruning

Trim spent flower stems through the season to prolong flowering and tidy the clump. Brachyscome spathulata dies back in winter, when old foliage is removed before spring growth. Division every few years renews crowded clumps.