Rhodanthemum hosmariense African Rose - Moroccan Daisy

The 'African Rose' Moroccan daisy, also known as Rhodanthemum hosmariense or Leucanthemum hosmariensis, is a recent variety with soft pink flowers, similar to beautiful daisies resting on a cushion of very fine foliage with silver reflections. Already magnificent in winter, when it displays its particularly graphic floral buds, this half-hardy perennial is often cultivated as a biennial in cool and humid climates. It blooms very early in the ground, for at least 8 weeks. It is a very beautiful rock plant, easy to grow in mild climates in well-drained soil, but also a superb biennial for flowering in containers and hanging baskets.

Rhodanthemum hosmariense is a small spring daisy belonging to the Asteraceae family. Originally from the Atlas Mountains, the Moroccan daisy (in Latin Rhodanthemum or Leucanthemum hosmariense) is actually a subshrub with woody base that tolerates drought well, but disappears when the temperature drops below -12°C (10.4°F), in well-drained soil. The 'African Rose' variety quickly forms a very regular and dense cushion, 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) high and 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) wide. It has larger flowers than those of the species, about 4cm (2in) in diameter, a fading soft pink colour over time, and a brown centre. The large floral buds that form in January are particularly decorative: surrounded by very dark scaly bracts, they contrast beautifully with the gray-green foliage at this time of year. The fine and dissected foliage, downy, becoming more silvery grey as the heat sets in, persists all year round in mild climates.

The soft pink flowers with yellow centres of the 'African Rose' Rhodanthemum cultivated in pots appear very early in spring and constantly renew themselves until early summer. Because of its decorative qualities and earliness, it is an ideal perennial plant to use in combination with more classic biennials such as pansies and primroses. It is very suitable for containers and flower boxes for spring decoration on terraces, balconies, and window sills. It can then be replanted in the garden, in an exposed rockery, where it will find what it likes: a sunny location and a very well-drained soil, even poor and rocky, sheltered from heavy frosts.

Note: Please be aware that our plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, repot them as soon as possible, in pots, containers, or directly in flower beds.