Felicia amelloides

A large clump of Felicia amelloides, also known as Agathea coelestis or Cape aster, when it reigns in a border or in isolation, is a sight that evokes great emotion. This evergreen undershrub is in flower from late spring to autumn, constantly covered with small daisy-like flowers of an extraordinary sky blue, enhanced by a yellow centre. Its growth is rapid, so the plant forms a beautiful bush with a spreading habit in just one season. Floriferous and not very demanding on the nature of the soil, this not very hardy perennial is ideal in coastal gardens or as a conservatory plant, planted in full sun, in a very well-drained soil, even dry.

Felicia amelloides belongs to the Asteraceae family. This plant is native to South Africa and only tolerates light frosts. It is a highly branched small bush, slightly wider than it is tall. The plant, almost mature in one year, will reach 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) (sometimes 1 m (3ft)) in height and 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28in) in width. This rapid growth also allows gardeners in colder regions to grow Cape daisy as an annual. Its rough, dark red stems bear persistent oval to rounded leaves of a rather light green. Flowering takes place from June to October, in the form of small heads resembling daisies, 3 cm (1in) wide, carried on long naked stems measuring up to 18 cm (7in). The outer ligules are royal blue, azure blue, sky blue, in any case a very bright blue perfectly highlighted by the small golden yellow centre.

Devoted to the sun, Felicia fears above all frost combined with excess moisture in winter. Plant them in ordinary soil that is perfectly well-drained. Forming spectacular rounded clumps in a very short time, Cape aster is superb in the company of yellow-flowered plants such as Achillea 'Golden Plate', Anthemis tinctoria, or Coreopsis. It can be very useful for starting a brand new garden, after the passage of construction equipment. It can be planted in sunny rockeries along with simple flowers like snapdragons, wallflowers, baptisias, or common sage, in borders or on the terrace in a large pot that can be stored away in winter. Their flowering goes well with grey-leaved plants like artemisias, as well as with old-fashioned roses.