When to plant Livingstone Daisy in Tropical Australia

Tropical zone — applies to Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Broome, Mackay and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Subtropical · Arid.

Sow Livingstone daisy direct from February to May, scattering seed 3 mm deep as the wet season eases into the drier, gentler months. Seed germinates in 14 to 28 days when nights cool a little, and the low, succulent mats take around 140 days to reach their full flush of jewel-toned flowers. Thin or space plants to 15 cm, with rows 15 to 20 cm apart, in a free-draining bed that catches full sun. In the tropics this is a dry-season annual only: it wants bright light, sharp drainage and low humidity to open its petals, so around Darwin and Cairns treat the cooler dry months as your one real window.

Sowing calendar — tropical zone

Green months are your sowing window: February to May.

Growing notes

Livingstone daisy is a South African succulent bred for Mediterranean-style conditions, which makes the tropical north a marginal home for it. The trick is timing: sow only once the wet season is winding down, because the plant will not tolerate waterlogged roots or the sustained humidity of a Darwin summer.

Grow it in the leanest, sandiest soil you have. Rich beds and heavy watering push soft, leggy growth that flops and rots rather than flowering. Full sun is non-negotiable, and the flowers themselves stay shut on dull, overcast days, so a hot open position near a path or wall gives the best show.

The main failure mode here is rot. In Cairns or Townsville, seedlings sitting in humid, still air or damp mulch will collapse at the stem within days. The fix is drainage and airflow: raise the bed or use pots of gritty mix, water only when the surface dries, and keep mulch clear of the crowns. If your only frost-free-but-humid window overlaps the tail of the wet, delay sowing until the air genuinely dries out. Feed sparingly, if at all, and expect a spring-into-early-dry display rather than a year-round performer.

Livingstone Daisy at a glance

Common questions

Can you grow Livingstone daisy in Darwin?

Yes, but only as a dry-season annual. Sow from February into the drier months, give it lean, sharply drained soil and full sun, and avoid the humid heart of the wet season when the plants rot. It will never behave like a permanent bedding plant this far north.

Why won't my Livingstone daisy flowers open?

The flowers only open in bright, direct sunlight and stay closed on cloudy or humid days. Plant them in the hottest, sunniest spot you have and expect a muted display during overcast tropical weather.

How far apart do you plant Livingstone daisy?

Space plants about 15 cm apart with rows 15 to 20 cm apart. The mats spread sideways, so this spacing lets them knit into a low carpet without trapping humid air between crowns.

How long does Livingstone daisy take to flower?

Allow around 140 days from a February to May sowing to a full flush of bloom, with germination taking 14 to 28 days first. In the tropics the best colour comes through the cooler, drier stretch of the year.

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