Lagenophora stipitata (Blue Bottle-daisy)

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Lagenophora spp.

Asteraceae

Southern Hemisphere (Australasia, SE Asia, South America)

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Lagenophora spp. is a genus of about twenty small daisies in the family Asteraceae, spread through the cooler Southern Hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Southeast Asia, and South America. Plants form low rosettes or creeping mats of small, spoon-shaped to lobed leaves 0.4-2.5 inches (1-6 cm) long, often pressed close to the ground. From the rosette rise slender, leafless stalks 1-8 inches (2.5-20 cm) tall, each topped by a single daisy flowerhead 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) across with white to mauve or pale blue ray florets around a yellow centre. As the seed ripens the head produces flask-shaped, sticky-tipped achenes that cling to passing animals. Many species grow in damp grassland, woodland clearings, and streamsides, spreading slowly by short runners or seed. Lagenophora spp. forms a low, neat groundcover in cool, moist conditions but is small enough to be lost among taller plants and grows poorly in prolonged heat and drought.

Native Range

Lagenophora spp. is native to the temperate and subtropical Southern Hemisphere, with species in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Southeast Asia, and South America. Plants grow in damp grassland, open forest, woodland clearings, and along streambanks, mostly in cool, moist sites.

Suggested Uses

Lagenophora spp. is used as a small-scale groundcover, in rock gardens, lawn-like plantings, and the gaps between paving in cool, moist gardens. Its low rosettes and small daisies suit naturalistic and native plantings in mild climates. The plants are too small and moisture-dependent for hot, dry, or heavily planted borders.

How to Identify

Look for a small, flat rosette of low leaves with a single, slender, leafless stalk rising from it, each stalk carrying one small white to mauve daisy. The flowerheads have a single ring of short ray florets around a yellow disc. After flowering the heads form flask-shaped seeds with sticky tips, which separate the genus from other small lawn daisies.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1" - 8"

Width/Spread4" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs mainly from spring through summer, with some species blooming over a long season in mild climates. Each slender stalk carries one flowerhead, and a plant produces a succession of them over several weeks. Seed heads with sticky achenes follow each flower.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to mauve

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-8 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

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade on moist, free-draining soils rich in organic matter. Steady moisture suits them, and they grow poorly in hot, dry, or compacted ground. Most species tolerate light frost but are not suited to severe winters or to long droughts. The low rosettes are easily overgrown, so they need open ground or short companions rather than dense, tall planting. Little feeding is needed in reasonable soil. Plants spread gently by runners and self-sown seed where conditions stay cool and damp.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. Spent flower stalks can be trimmed for tidiness, and crowded mats can be lifted and divided in spring to spread plants. Removing seed heads limits self-seeding where it is not wanted.

Pruning Schedule

spring