This easy-to-grow flower was originally found in the tropical regions of Mexico, Central and South America and even some of the Caribbean Islands because it likes humid, hot temperatures. It already sounds like it will do well in the local area.

Appearance

These flowers with a darker yellow center are an inch across with bright green, elongated, some heart-shaped leaves. Their height varies between 12 inches and 2 feet depending on the variety.

Annual or perennial

My relatives who live in the colder temperatures will need to plant this butter daisy each spring. It will not survive temperatures colder than 30 degrees.

However, in a climate like in South Texas, even though it is an annual, the butter daisy acts like a perennial. It seeds itself and will come up the next year without replanting. If temperatures do not freeze, the butter daisy will resprout.

Easy to grow

Who doesn’t prefer a plant in sunny South Texas that’s drought-tolerant and undemanding in its growing needs? Those are happy words to South Texas gardeners.

This flowering herbaceous flower is easy to grow and loves plenty of sunlight and humidity. The soil can be neutral or slightly acidic and should drain well.

It likes partial to full sun, but can appear droopy in intense heat, especially on our hot summer days in July, August and September. You will need to water this plant when the soil is dry about an inch deep in the ground.

Pests

Pests for this plant are those that are found in hot and humid environments.

• Powdery mildew

The humidity of our South Texas coastal area promotes powdery mildew on this plant. If this is found on a plant simply snip off the offending area that has the mildew and dispose of it. This will keep it from spreading.

After snipping off the affected area, you need to place it in a location so that it won’t spread to other plants. Simply don’t leave it on the ground next to the plant.

• Whiteflies; aphids

It also seems to attract whiteflies and aphids that suck the sap from the flower. Fortunately, if you water on a regular basis, this keeps away these pests.

• Good news

With very little care, the good news is this plant attracts birds, butterflies and bees. It is also deer-resistant.

Varieties

There are two varieties of the butter daisy.

• Casino Light Yellow

The Casino Light Yellow loves heat and humidity and will grow up to two feet tall. This is good for containers, borders and beds.

• Showstar

The Showstar variety is deer resistant and provides dainty star-shaped flowers that reach a height of 10 inches.

It enjoys drier soil conditions than the Casino Light Yellow variety.

So depending on where you chose to use the plant either in a border or adding height to a pot or creating a focal point, you have a choice.

Growing from seed

A gardener can sow the seeds after the first frost. If you have transplants from a store, remove the plant from the store’s packaging and place it into the ground. You need to give the young plants plenty of water while they establish themselves. After they are established, make certain you don’t overwater because they actually prefer a drier soil.

Ways to enjoy

Butter daisy can add a splash of color to any area of your garden. Imagine these along a walkway as you walk up to your front entrance, gracing the border of your garden or as a focal point in an area. These flowers are good filler for hanging baskets because they require little maintenance.

As I write this, it is nearly time to choose new flowers for your garden or flower pots. This one could be a nice addition because of its easy-growing nature. You may have to wait a bit for it to show up in nurseries, however, as it is more readily available closer to summertime.

This Golden Girl will be ready to plant the butter daisy in beds and pots this year.