When to plant Livingstone Daisy in Cool Australia
Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Sow Livingstone daisy direct from February to April for an autumn start, or again in September and October once the worst frosts ease. Scatter seed just 3 mm deep into a warm, free-draining bed in full sun, and expect germination in 14 to 28 days. These low, succulent-leaved annuals reach flowering maturity in around 140 days, so the autumn sowing carries plants slowly through the cold ready to open in spring. Thin or space plants 15 cm apart with rows 15 to 20 cm apart. In frost-prone gardens around Hobart, Canberra and Orange, they earn their place as a heat-loving edging that shrugs off dry, poor soil.
Sowing calendar — cool zone
Green months are your sowing window: February to April and September to October.
Growing notes
Livingstone daisy is built for lean, sunny, sharply drained ground, which makes the cool zone's cold, wet winters its main enemy. The autumn sowing window from February to April works best where you can keep seedlings on the dry side and out of frost pockets; in colder gardens near Ballarat or Armidale, hold off and rely on the September to October sowing instead so plants come up as the soil warms.
The classic failure here is damping-off and rot. Seed sown into heavy, cold, wet soil either fails to strike or collapses at the stem within a week of emerging. The fix is drainage first: work coarse sand or grit into the bed, sow shallowly at 3 mm, and water sparingly rather than keeping the surface constantly damp.
Once established they need almost no coddling. Full sun is non-negotiable, as the daisy-like flowers only open in bright light and stay shut on grey days. Avoid rich soil and heavy feeding, which pushes soft leafy growth at the expense of blooms. Space plants 15 cm apart so air moves freely between them, reducing the fungal pressure that lingers in cool, still conditions.
Livingstone Daisy at a glance
| Sowing depth | 3 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 15 cm |
| Row spacing | 15-20 cm |
| Germination | 14-28 days |
| Days to maturity | 140 days |
| Frost tolerance | Half Hardy |
| Method | Raise Seedlings,Sow Direct |
Common questions
- When should I plant Livingstone daisy in Hobart?
- In Hobart's cool climate, favour the spring sowing from September to October so seedlings emerge into warming soil and dodge hard frosts. An autumn sowing from February to April can also work in a sheltered, well-drained spot, but only if the bed stays dry over winter.
- Why won't my Livingstone daisy flowers open?
- The flowers are light-triggered and only open fully in strong, direct sun. On overcast days or in a partly shaded bed they stay closed, so a full-sun position is essential. Rich soil can also push leaf growth over flowering.
- Does Livingstone daisy survive frost?
- It is only half hardy, so mature plants tolerate light chill but a hard frost will damage them. In cool gardens grow it as a spring-to-summer annual and accept that it will finish once real frosts return in autumn.
- What soil does Livingstone daisy need?
- Free-draining, low-fertility soil in full sun suits it best. Heavy, wet ground causes rot and damping-off, so add grit or sand to open up the bed before sowing at 3 mm deep.
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