Pallenis maritima Asmago

Pallenis maritima 'Asmago' or Maritime Daisy is a small, not very hardy perennial, more or less spreading, which particularly likes limestone rockeries. It produces flowers similar to bright yellow daisies for months, from spring to autumn. This plant appreciates rocky and somewhat inhospitable places so much that it reseeds itself with enthusiasm, dotting the steps of stairs, cracks in walls, dry edges, or arid slopes with light and lovely tufts. From its Mediterranean origins, it retains a taste for coastal arid environments and perfectly withstands spray.

Pallenis maritima 'Asmago' is native to the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean, and the nearby Atlantic. It belongs to the large Asteraceae family, as evidenced by its inflorescences (which we call flowers) organized in daisy-like heads. It is a perennial plant with flexible and branched stems, forming a low and dense mass, more or less spreading, 25cm (10in) tall and 40cm (16in) wide. The stems are densely covered with blue-green leaves, alternate, narrow, and covered with a whitish down. They persist in winter down to -5°C (23°F) to -7°C (19.4°F) in well-drained soil. Flowering begins in May-June depending on the regions and continues until September. The plant produces 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) diameter flower heads in a bright yellow colour, centered around a small yellow heart. Once pollinated by insects, the flowers give way to seeds with white bristles that will be dispersed by the wind. They will easily germinate along paths, between paving stones, in the gaps of dry stone walls... It is a generous and very easy to grow plant, but it is sensitive to severe frost.

A sun-loving perennial, preferring somewhat arid places abandoned by other plants, it forms absolutely delightful ground covers. Plant Pallenis maritima 'Asmago' along pathways, in rockeries, above or along a wall. For example, pair it with Nepeta racemosa, Geranium sanguineum, Stipa pennata, Thymus capitatus, beautiful low-growing plants that appreciate the same environments and also tolerate summer drought.