How to Grow and Care for Painted Daisies

The painted daisy (Tanacetum coccineum, formerly Chrysanthemum coccineum) grows as a perennial flowering plant in most of the United States. It closely resembles a classic daisy plant with fern-like leaves and a circle of petals surrounding a dense round center. Plant seeds or nursery plants in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. They thrive in six to eight hours of full sun and well-draining, moderately moist soil. Painted daisies are fast-growing and can handle some periods of drought but don't like high heat. Painted daisies are toxic to humans and pets.

Painted Daisy Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing painted daisies:

• Plant in well-draining soil with full sun exposure.
• Needs shade protection in climates with hot, sweltering temperatures.
• Can tolerate a little drought; does not like humidity.
• Pinch back to encourage bushier growth and more flowers once plants are 6 to 8 inches tall; once they grow taller, stop pinching to encourage bud growth.

Light

The painted daisy needs full sun in northern climates, meaning at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight on most days. It will appreciate some shade in regions with hot summers, especially from the intense afternoon sun.

Soil

This flower is not too fussy about its soil type but must have good drainage. Loamy or sandy soil is best. The plant might struggle in heavy clay soil.

Water

The plant likes a moderate amount of moisture but can tolerate some drought. Rainfall in temperate climates is often enough to keep it happy. But in hot weather or if there's a dry period of longer than a week, give your painted daisies a good watering to moisten the soil. Do not allow your plants to sit in soggy, waterlogged soil because this can result in root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

Painted daisies prefer temperate climates and don't do well in very hot or cold weather. They also don't like high humidity. The seeds germinate in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fertilizer

Following label instructions, feed your painted daisies after their first bloom with a fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphorous and potassium. A top dressing of composted manure in the fall will help to keep the root system healthy.

Types of Painted Daisies

Originally from Asia and the Caucasus Mountains, many varieties and cultivars of painted daisies exist. Traditions and folklore suggest that certain flowers hold particular symbolism, such as daisies representing innocence, purity, and loyal love. Tanacetum coccineum derives from the Greek word for "immortality," referencing the everlasting nature of its blooms.

Butterflies love painted daisies, so they are attractive additions to butterfly or cottage-style gardens that rely on a steady stream of color. The stem of the painted daisy is sturdy, making it an excellent cut flower for arrangements.

Here are several popular types of painted daisies:

• 'Brenda': This plant has large bright magenta flowers with yellow centers.
• 'Mrs. James Kelway': A daisy offering creamy white petals that turn pale pink as they mature.
• 'Mont Blanc': This variety features white petals with yellow centers.
• 'Eileen May Robinson': With pale pale pink hues, it can grow up to 30 inches tall.
• 'Robinson's Red': This daisy features bright crimson petals with yellow centers.

Propagating Painted Daisies

Painted daisies can be propagated easily by division in the early spring. Dividing mature plants also helps to keep them vigorous and flowering at their best. Here's how:

1. Simply dig up a mature plant, being careful not to damage the roots.
2. Gently pull apart the roots to create separate plants.
3. Replant them in a suitable growing site and water to moisten the soil.

How to Grow Painted Daisies From Seed

This plant grows easily from seed.

1. Sow seeds indoors in a seed-starting mix roughly four to six weeks before your area's last projected frost date in the spring.
2. Keep the growing medium moist but not soggy.
3. Seedlings can then be planted outdoors once the danger of frost has passed.
4. Harden off the seedlings before moving them permanently outdoors.

You can also directly sow seeds in the garden after the threat of frost has passed. Sow the seeds in well-drained soil, covering them with about 1/8 inch of soil. Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear. Then, thin the seedlings to space them 18 to 24 inches apart.

Potting and Repotting Painted Daisies

Painted daisies grow well in containers, preferably smaller, shorter cultivars. Be mindful that the soil doesn’t completely dry out when growing in containers. Container soil dries out more rapidly than garden beds. To preserve moisture in the container soil, top it with a layer of mulch.

Once the plant starts outgrowing its container (evidenced by roots growing out of the drainage holes and crowding), remove the root ball and divide it in half by gently pulling apart the roots. Plant the new half in fresh, well-draining potting soil.

Painted daisies can be grown indoors if you have a bright, southern-facing window bathed in sunlight or supplement with grow lights.

Overwintering

Painted daisies are perennials and cold hardy in many hardiness zones in the United States, surviving in zones between 3 and 7. It can withstand cold temps as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in zones above 7, the summers are too hot for the plant to thrive and return yearly.

Winter protection is unnecessary for painted daisies in climates with cold, frosty winters, but you can hard prune (cut by half) and put a layer of mulch over the root bed to insulate the plant's roots. Remove the mulch in spring.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Painted daisies generally don’t have issues with pests or diseases, including being relatively deer resistant. An added benefit of planting painted daisies in the garden is their natural insect-repellent properties. This makes the painted daisy a valuable plant for a vegetable garden and a flower bed. Occasionally leaf miners or aphids can be an issue with painted daisies, but they can be managed using organic substances such as neem oil.

How to Get Painted Daisies to Bloom

Painted daisies will readily start blooming in the late spring each year, usually around the beginning of June, with their bright flowers that have many narrow petals and can stretch up to three inches across. The bloom period will continue into July.

If you notice a drop in flower production, it could mean that your painted daisies are crowded and could benefit from division. These flowers make a perfect solution for empty garden spots when spring bulbs stop blooming.

Bloom Months

Painted daisies typically bloom in late spring from June into July. Pruning after bloom may encourage new blooms in late summer or early fall.

How Long Do Painted Daisies Bloom?

Each flower blooms for about seven to 10 days.

What Do Painted Daisy Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Painted daisies are about 3 inches in diameter, growing about 3 feet tall, featuring vibrant colors, with a prominent yellow center surrounded by white, red, magenta, and gold-colored petals. Most daisies, including painted daisies, do not have a fragrance.

How to Encourage More Blooms?

After the plant is done flowering in the summer, cut back the stems to encourage another bloom in late summer or early fall.

Caring for Painted Daisies After It Blooms

After fall bloom, in preparation for winter dormancy, cut the plant down, by half.

Deadheading Painted Daisy Flowers

Deadheading, or removing the spent blooms, will keep the plant looking neat and encourage further flowering.

Common Problems With Painted Daisies

Painted daisies are relatively easy to care for, and they won’t aggressively spread.

Stunted Growth

Inspect the plant for insect activity. If you notice stunted growth, it could be a sap-sucking insect like aphids. Treat the plant with neem oil or another horticultural oil if you see aphids—pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects (green, black, red, yellow, brown, or gray).

Wilting

Intense sunlight or heat can cause painted daisies to wilt prematurely. Move plants to the shade and give more water to help the plants cool down.