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Yellow daisies, short and tall

AndrewR

By AndrewR

5 comments


It was the late Christopher Lloyd who penned the phrase “knee deep in daisies.” He was referring to late summer in the garden when members of the daisy family seem to predominate in the borders. But there a couple of yellow daisies that are flowering now, and will continue to do so for a few weeks if regularly deadheaded,

Buphthalmum salicifolium (what a mouthful of a name) grows about two feet tall. The small flowers are carried on stiff stems so no support is needed, and spent flowers are easily nipped off between finger and thumb. It likes a fairly well drained soil in full sun but is otherwise undemanding. Not showy or spectacular, but a reliable stalwart.

While you may miss the buphthalmum, silphium perfoliatum is less easy to overlook, if only because it grows seven feet tall. The flowers are not huge, and the foliage is a bit coarse, but as a back-of-the-border plant it is hard to beat. With all that superstructure to support, it needs a moist soil, preferably in light shade. It also needs support and does best in a sheltered position, away from damaging winds.

Neither of these plant will stop you in their tracks, but for tough, reliable performers, they are worth their place in my garden.

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Comments

 

Purple and yellow is a combination that really should not work - and yet it does!

4 Aug, 2015

 

You did jolly well remembering how to spell those names
Andrew.

4 Aug, 2015

 

Urbanite - I can't take any credit for that - it's next door's buddleia. Colour theory says opposites look good together. Purple is a mix of red and blue, while yellow is the other primary colour.

4 Aug, 2015

 

I love the Daisy season. :0)

4 Aug, 2015

 

My mother always said that colours in nature dont clash.

5 Aug, 2015

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