Seasonal Wild Flowers

Cape Daisy

Osteospermum ecklonis

African Daisy, South African Daisy and Blue-eyed Daisy.

Asteraceae

May to September

The garden plant is found throughout the country.

The escape is found in the Isles of Scilly.

See the BSBI distribution map for Cape Daisy

The escape is found on rough ground close to habitation.

It is a neophyte originating from South Africa and is

classed as an invasive alien weed in Australia, New

Zealand and the USA.

Cape Daisy is a non-native, colourful herb, growing to

over 90cm.

Flowers are up to 5cm across with lanceolate ray

florets and small, central disc florets.

The ray florets are usually purple, but there are cultivars

of all colours.

Disc florets and dark blue. They are orange when they

produce pollen.

Leaves are green, ovate, entire and slightly fleshy.

Cape Daisy on rough ground Bryer, Isle of Scilly

Close-up of flower- pollen in some disc florets

Leaves and flowers - spreading habit

Fleshy leaves