Plant library · Annual Flowers
Argyranthemum frutescens
Marguerite daisy is a bushy annual flower that brings a steady run of daisy blooms from late spring into fall. At roughly 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide, it reads as a rounded, flower-forward mound rather than a low edging plant. Use it where its long bloom season can carry a sunny planting after spring bulbs or early-season annuals have faded.
Place Marguerite daisy in the front-to-middle zone of a border, or repeat it through broad drifts where its rounded outline can knit a bed together. It also suits sunny containers, provided the pot is large enough to accommodate its eventual spread without crowding the rim. Keep it set back from narrow paths: the flowering canopy can lean into circulation space as plants fill out, and regular deadheading is easier when stems are reachable from an edge.
Set plants 18 inches apart, center to center, for a closely planted display that fills in as the season progresses. Each plant can ultimately occupy about 2 feet of width, so allow the outer edge of a group to soften into neighboring planting areas rather than assigning it a sharply confined slot. In a mixed bed, leave an access side or nearby path for grooming spent flowers without stepping between plants.
Reserve an open, full-sun position with well-drained soil. Provide moderate water so the planting does not remain dry for extended periods, while avoiding a low pocket where water lingers around the roots. A south- or west-facing bed, exposed planter, or sunny border can support the dense, floriferous habit; give container plantings enough root room and drainage to prevent the center of the display from becoming congested.[1]
The main display runs from late spring through fall, making this a useful seasonal anchor for beds that need color across summer. Deadhead regularly to keep the planting tidy and encourage continued flowering. In zones 9 through 11, its woody, subshrub character can make it useful beyond a single summer season; elsewhere, plan it as an annual layer that can be removed when the season closes.[1]
Do not rely on Marguerite daisy as a compact border line. Its 2-foot mature width needs room to round out, and a tightly bounded strip beside paving will require more frequent trimming or deadheading to keep the walkway clear. Give it a sunny position from the outset rather than placing it behind taller plants that will shade it later in summer.
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.