Cleretum Species, Ice Plant, Livingstone Daisy, Livingston Daisy

This species of daisy is popular in colder temperate climbs, however, I live in a drought area of southern California and our Springs can...Read More be temperate weather. Thus, I get away with growing these flowers for up to 4 months.

I plant them in October in a well mixed enriched soil with compost all along my walkways. I sprinkle the seeds carefully on the surface, tamp down with my flat shoes or hands. Then, sprinkle over the seeds a light soil mix to keep them well covered about 1/4 inch. Then, water or let the rains do their job.

The seedlings start to pop up around late December and early January. They fill in my walkways completely and the variety of bright color add cheer to the neighborhood people who walk by. Its like offering a bouquet of happiness for them. Sometimes, I will water them when their flowers are completely closed early in the morning so that they don't dry out. This helps them to continue to grow vigorously and spread out like a carpet of glee. Then, when the warmer weather arrives, they don't like it. They begin to dehydrate and that's the timing when I being to harvest the seeds pods they leave behind and take them out.

The display is well worth the effort. I love to garden and its like a painter who loves to paint. Its my artwork, so to speak. So, I love these Livingstone Daisies as a big part of my Spring flower display for the fun o fit.

My plants wilt in the sun. I'm not sure but it's possible that I transplanted them too deeply; that the base roots may be too close to th...Read Moree bottom of the containers. They are in long railing-type containers. They're quite happy in the cool morning but if I put them out where they get afternoon sun they wilt so badly they look nearly dead. They've just started to bloom and I wish I could give them sun but they wilt each time and it takes them quite awhile to recover. The soil is loamy, not clay - nice potting soil. Containers are the self-watering type but have no standing water. Any tips appreciated!

Light affects germination negatively: the seeds germinate, but the radicle don't develop (sow in darkness OR cover the seeds with a fine ...Read Morelayer of soil is far, far better). Need a very free draining mix. Definitely mature plants dislike root disturbance.

Here in Spangle, WA (zone 5a/b) I have successfuly started seeds in my unheated greenhouse. Outside, the weather has been hovering aroun...Read Mored 30-33 degrees at night, so the greenhouse is sitting right around 35-40 inside. Daytime temperatures inside the greenhouse range from 55-75 depending on the amount of sun during the day. I'm really looking forward to these flowers. I purchased a plant last year and it wasn't as daily like. It appeared more like a moss rose than the daisy-like photos I see here. I'm hoping for the daisy look. Will keep site posted as plants progress.