Growing Australian native daisies by colour
Australian native daisies can be found in almost every environment; clinging to coastal cliffs, carpeting alpine meadows, popping up in arid inland landscapes and even thriving in suburban verges.
Part of the surprise lies in what a “daisy” actually is. The daisy family, Asteraceae, is one of the largest and most diverse plant families on Earth. While many species fit the familiar daisy shape (a central disc surrounded by petal-like rays) others are wonderfully strange, architectural or textural.
Australia is home to hundreds of native daisies, many of which are incredibly tough, long-flowering and well suited to modern gardens, including small urban spaces, pots and dry climates. Grouping them by colour not only makes them easier to design with, it also reveals just how varied and beautiful our native flora really is.
White and Soft Cream Native Daisies
Many white native daisies reflect sunlight, helping protect delicate flower parts from intense heat. Their light-coloured petals and bracts reflect available light at dawn, dusk and on overcast days, making them easier for insects to locate when visibility is reduced. This helps support pollinators outside peak daylight hours, especially in cooler seasons. Use white daisies to soften bold foliage or pair them with silver-leafed natives like saltbush or eremophila for a coastal feel.
1. Tall Daisy (Brachyscome diversifolia)
A perennial with white to pale lilac rays and a yellow centre. It forms loose clumps and flowers for long periods, especially in cooler months. Excellent for cottage-style native gardens and mass planting.
2. Winged Everlasting (Ammobium alatum)
An annual or short-lived perennial with papery white bracts surrounding a bright yellow centre. Exceptionally hardy and drought tolerant, it’s famous for its longevity as a cut or dried flower. This species evolved to thrive in poor soils and harsh sun.
3. Flannel Cudweed (Actinobole uliginosum)
Known for its soft, velvety grey foliage, this perennial is as tactile as it is visually distinctive. The woolly leaves help insulate the plant against heat and cold, revealing how Australian daisies prioritise survival as much as beauty.
4. Hoary Sunray (Leucochrysum albicans)
A tall, upright perennial with silvery foliage and pale, papery flowers held well above the leaves. Its strong vertical form and tolerance for exposure make it feel more architectural than floral.
5. White Strawflower / White Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
A striking option with crisp white papery bracts surrounding a golden centre. Exceptionally resilient, it evolved to withstand heat, drought and open exposure, and its long-lasting blooms make it as practical as it is beautiful.
6. White Burr Daisy (Calotis dentex)
This lesser-known native daisy produces crisp white flowers with bold yellow centres, followed by distinctive burr-like seed heads that give the plant its name. Its life cycle reflects a classic Australian strategy — flower quickly, set seed efficiently and persist through variability rather than permanence.
Yellow and Gold Native Daisies
Yellow is the most common daisy colour in Australia and for good reason. Yellow Australian native daisies act as visual “landing beacons” for pollinators. Their high-contrast is easily detected by native bees, beetles and flies, even in harsh midday light. In open Australian landscapes where flowers may be sparse, these daisies help pollinators locate food efficiently, conserving energy and increasing pollination success. Many yellow daisies flower after fire or disturbance, taking advantage of open ground and nutrient release. Use them sparingly as highlights or mass plant them for a bold, impactful effect in large spaces.
1. Yam Daisy (Microseris walteri)
A perennial with cheerful yellow flowers and deep cultural significance. Once an important food source for First Nations peoples, it also plays a role in soil improvement through its tuberous roots.
2. Billy Buttons (Craspedia globosa and related species)
Iconic golden spheres held aloft on slender stems. These perennials are incredibly tough, long-lasting and excellent for both fresh and dried arrangements.
3. Woolly Buttons (Trichanthodium skirrophorum)
A small Australian native daisy with compact, button-like yellow flower heads and softly hairy foliage. Its sculptural form and understated colour make it feel more textural than floral, revealing how some daisies prioritise structure and efficiency over showiness.
4. Scaly Buttons (Leptorhynchos squamatus)
A low-growing perennial daisy with tight, yellow button flowers and fine, grey-green foliage. Often found in grasslands and open woodlands, it demonstrates how Australian daisies can be subtle, resilient and perfectly adapted to lean soils and exposure.
5. Golden Everlasting (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
An annual or short-lived perennial with large, vibrant yellow flowers. It thrives in difficult conditions and is often one of the first plants to recolonise disturbed ground.
6. Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)
A low-growing perennial with clusters of small yellow flowers and aromatic foliage. Extremely hardy and ideal for groundcover.
Pink Native Daisies
Pink native daisies are often delicate in appearance but surprisingly resilient. Many pink-hued Australian native daisies intensify or soften in colour depending on light, temperature and soil stress. In harsher conditions — bright sun, poor soils or cooler nights — pigments called anthocyanins become more concentrated, deepening pink and mauve tones. This isn’t just decorative: these pigments help protect plant tissues from UV radiation and temperature extremes. Pink native daisies pair beautifully with grasses and fine-textured plants, creating movement and a gentle, soft feel.
1. Swan River Daisy (Brachyscome iberidifolia)
An annual or short-lived perennial famous for its pastel pink and mauve tones. It’s easy to grow, fast flowering and ideal for pots and hanging baskets.
2. Pink Paper Daisy (Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea)
A classic spring annual with bright pink papery bracts. Thrives in poor soils and rewards minimal care.
3. Prostrate Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena canescens)
A low-growing Australian native daisy with rounded, pink to mauve flower heads that sit close to the foliage rather than forming classic petals. Its dense, button-like blooms and spreading habit reveal the broader diversity of the daisy family, where form and efficiency often take precedence over symmetry.
4. Rosy Everlasting (Schoenia filifolia)
A lesser-known annual with soft pink blooms and fine foliage. Beautiful in wildflower meadows and naturalistic gardens.
5. Minuria (Minuria integerrima)
A small, upright native daisy with tight pink to mauve button-like flower heads and fine foliage. Often found in arid and semi-arid regions, it demonstrates how Australian daisies have evolved compact, water-efficient blooms rather than open petals.
Purple, Blue and Mauve Native Daisies
This colour group showcases some of Australia’s most striking daisies, many of which rival exotic ornamentals. In many Australian native daisies, blue and purple pigments act as natural sunscreen. These compounds reduce cellular damage from UV exposure, helping flowers last longer, retain colour and remain attractive to pollinators in high-light environments. Use purple and blue daisies to add depth and contrast. They work especially well with yellow-flowering natives for dramatic colour interplay.
1. Cut-leaf Daisy (Brachyscome multifida)
A hardy perennial with finely divided foliage and violet to lavender flowers. Extremely adaptable and long-flowering.
2. New Holland Daisy (Vittadinia australasica)
Naturally found in grasslands and open woodland, it’s more subtle than many nursery favourites but exceptionally well adapted to Australian conditions.
3. Native Blue Daisy (Brachyscome angustifolia)
Compact and floriferous, with soft blue-purple blooms. Excellent for edging and containers.
4. Purple Burr Daisy (Calotis cuneifolia)
A compact native daisy with mauve-pink flowers and distinctive burr-like seed heads that cling lightly to passing animals. Its spiky, textural form feels far removed from the classic daisy shape, revealing a tougher, more utilitarian side of the daisy family.
Planting tools for success
Australian native daisies thrive with minimal intervention, but a few simple tools can make establishment easier — especially in pots and small gardens.
A good potting trowel
Free-draining soil is key for most native daisies. A well-balanced trowel makes planting gentler and helps avoid compacting soil around young roots.
Sharp secateurs
Light deadheading encourages repeat flowering and keeps plants tidy. Clean, sharp cuts reduce stress and help prevent disease.
Terracotta ollas
Terracotta naturally regulates moisture, while ollas provide slow, consistent watering at root level. They are ideal for natives that dislike wet soil.
Seed bombs
Seed bombs are an easy, low-effort way to introduce native daisies, particularly annual and short-lived species. They protect seed until conditions are right, mimicking how many daisies establish naturally after rain.
Why native daisies are such a great choice
Australian native daisies are resilient, water-wise and perfectly adapted to our soils and climate. Many are perennial, returning year after year with minimal input. Others are annuals that self-seed gently, creating evolving displays without becoming invasive.
They support native insects, birds and soil health while offering extraordinary diversity in form, texture and colour. From neat pots to wild meadows, there is a native daisy suited to almost every garden style and scale.
Perhaps most importantly, they challenge the idea that native plants are dull or limiting. Once you begin to notice their diversity and beauty, it becomes clear that Australian daisies aren’t an alternative to traditional garden flowers — they are the original, the resilient and the most honest expression of place.
