Asteriscus maritimus (Gold Coin Daisy) - A compact evergreen low-spreading and mounding herbaceous sub-shrub to 1 foot tall by 4 feet wide with green small spoon-shaped leaves and 1 1/2 inch wide bright golden-yellow daisy flowers. Its main flowering period is spring to summer with some bloom year-round.
Plant in full sun in soil with good drainage and water infrequently to occasionally but tolerates regular irrigation if soil is very well draining or is planted in containers. Cold hardy to 15-20 degrees F. This plant is a great addition to coastal gardens and performs particularly well in sandy soils. It does great in containers and is often sold in colder climates as a spring-fall annual.
Asteriscus maritimus is native to the Canary Islands, southern Portugal along the coast of the western Mediterranean east to Greece where it grows close to the coast. It is also known a Sea Aster, Sea Daisy or Mediterranean Beach Daisy. The name for the genus is derived from the Greek word 'asteriskos' meaning "small star" in reference to the smaller star shaped flowers. The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'mare' meaning "the sea" in reference to this plant growing close to the ocean. The current name for this plant in the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew database is Pallenis maritima (the name for the genus from 'palea', meaning "chaff" in reference to the chaffy receptacle) but we continue to use the older name until such time as this name becomes more widely recognized. We have sold this plant in our nursery since 1991 also grow the related plant Asteriscus sericeus that has remained in the genus Asteriscus.
The information about Asteriscus maritimus displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |