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Brachyscome (Swan River Daisy) - Brachyscome iberidifolia
A carpet of soft, dainty blooms in shades of lavender, sky blue, and white—graceful and enduring, a touch of wild charm for Pennsylvania gardens.
Why We Love It in Pennsylvania
Though native to the open plains of Australia, Brachyscome has proven itself a hardy and delightful addition to northern gardens. Its fine, fern-like foliage and cheerful daisylike flowers thrive in our cooler summers and bright spring days, spilling over borders, rock walls, and garden paths with effortless beauty. In Zones 5–7, it grows as an annual but blooms continuously from late spring until frost, shrugging off light chill and midsummer heat alike.
A Living Link to Our Agricultural Past
In the early 1900s, cottage gardeners prized Brachyscome for its long bloom and gentle demeanor—an easy, generous flower for edging kitchen plots and walkways. Seed catalogs of the era called it “the poor man’s posy,” as it needed little care but rewarded even the humblest soil with months of color. Planting it today keeps that simple grace alive: beauty born from thrift and patience.
Quick Facts
Type: Annual in northern climates; perennial in Zones 9–11
Days to Bloom: ~90–100 days from sowing
Height/Spread: 6–12" tall × 8–12" wide
Color: Shades of blue, violet, lilac, and white with golden centers
Habit: Mounded, spreading; excellent for edging, containers, and borders
Best For: Pollinator gardens, window boxes, cottage beds, and soft ground cover
How to Grow Brachyscome in PA
When to Plant
Start Indoors: 6–8 weeks before last frost (usually mid-March for most of PA).
Transplant: After danger of frost, when soil warms to 55°F+ (typically mid-May).
Direct Sow: Possible once soil has warmed, though indoor starts give earlier blooms.
(Higher elevations and northern counties: start a week or two later.)
Site & Soil
Light: Full sun to part shade. In hotter southern counties, a touch of afternoon shade keeps blooms strong.
Soil: Loose, well-drained soil with moderate fertility; too much nitrogen encourages leaves over flowers.
pH: 6.0–7.5.
Moisture: Prefers steady moisture but tolerates short dry spells once established.
Sowing & Transplanting
Seed Depth: Press gently onto surface; requires light to germinate.
Germination Time: 10–15 days at 65–70°F.
Transplant Spacing: 8–10" apart for dense borders or mass plantings.
Care Tips
Pinch early growth to encourage branching and fuller plants.
Deadhead regularly to prolong blooming.
Feed lightly every 3–4 weeks with balanced organic fertilizer if soil is lean.
In containers, keep evenly moist and trim lightly mid-season to refresh.
Common PA Challenges
Excessive rain: Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
Powdery mildew: Improve airflow, avoid crowding, and water at soil level.
Leggy growth: Caused by too little light—choose sunny spots whenever possible.
In the Garden
Brachyscome brings a cottage-garden softness wherever it’s sown. Pair it with alyssum, violas, or creeping thyme for a border that hums with bees and butterflies. Its petite blooms fill in around herbs and vegetables, lending charm to every corner and a hint of meadow sweetness to the structured beds of the modern garden.
What You’ll Receive (Gowan Heritage Seeds)
Approx. seeds per packet: ~1,000
Germination: Tested and packed for high viability
Non-GMO, untreated, open-pollinated
Packed For Year & Lot: Printed on packet for traceability
Gowan Heritage Note: We honor Pennsylvania’s seed-saving roots by offering time-tested varieties that pair beauty with purpose, maintaining up-to-date germination tests and sharing planting windows that match our local seasons—so your garden keeps the story growing.
A carpet of soft, dainty blooms in shades of lavender, sky blue, and white—graceful and enduring, a touch of wild charm for Pennsylvania gardens.
Why We Love It in Pennsylvania
Though native to the open plains of Australia, Brachyscome has proven itself a hardy and delightful addition to northern gardens. Its fine, fern-like foliage and cheerful daisylike flowers thrive in our cooler summers and bright spring days, spilling over borders, rock walls, and garden paths with effortless beauty. In Zones 5–7, it grows as an annual but blooms continuously from late spring until frost, shrugging off light chill and midsummer heat alike.
A Living Link to Our Agricultural Past
In the early 1900s, cottage gardeners prized Brachyscome for its long bloom and gentle demeanor—an easy, generous flower for edging kitchen plots and walkways. Seed catalogs of the era called it “the poor man’s posy,” as it needed little care but rewarded even the humblest soil with months of color. Planting it today keeps that simple grace alive: beauty born from thrift and patience.
Quick Facts
Type: Annual in northern climates; perennial in Zones 9–11
Days to Bloom: ~90–100 days from sowing
Height/Spread: 6–12" tall × 8–12" wide
Color: Shades of blue, violet, lilac, and white with golden centers
Habit: Mounded, spreading; excellent for edging, containers, and borders
Best For: Pollinator gardens, window boxes, cottage beds, and soft ground cover
How to Grow Brachyscome in PA
When to Plant
Start Indoors: 6–8 weeks before last frost (usually mid-March for most of PA).
Transplant: After danger of frost, when soil warms to 55°F+ (typically mid-May).
Direct Sow: Possible once soil has warmed, though indoor starts give earlier blooms.
(Higher elevations and northern counties: start a week or two later.)
Site & Soil
Light: Full sun to part shade. In hotter southern counties, a touch of afternoon shade keeps blooms strong.
Soil: Loose, well-drained soil with moderate fertility; too much nitrogen encourages leaves over flowers.
pH: 6.0–7.5.
Moisture: Prefers steady moisture but tolerates short dry spells once established.
Sowing & Transplanting
Seed Depth: Press gently onto surface; requires light to germinate.
Germination Time: 10–15 days at 65–70°F.
Transplant Spacing: 8–10" apart for dense borders or mass plantings.
Care Tips
Pinch early growth to encourage branching and fuller plants.
Deadhead regularly to prolong blooming.
Feed lightly every 3–4 weeks with balanced organic fertilizer if soil is lean.
In containers, keep evenly moist and trim lightly mid-season to refresh.
Common PA Challenges
Excessive rain: Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
Powdery mildew: Improve airflow, avoid crowding, and water at soil level.
Leggy growth: Caused by too little light—choose sunny spots whenever possible.
In the Garden
Brachyscome brings a cottage-garden softness wherever it’s sown. Pair it with alyssum, violas, or creeping thyme for a border that hums with bees and butterflies. Its petite blooms fill in around herbs and vegetables, lending charm to every corner and a hint of meadow sweetness to the structured beds of the modern garden.
What You’ll Receive (Gowan Heritage Seeds)
Approx. seeds per packet: ~1,000
Germination: Tested and packed for high viability
Non-GMO, untreated, open-pollinated
Packed For Year & Lot: Printed on packet for traceability
Gowan Heritage Note: We honor Pennsylvania’s seed-saving roots by offering time-tested varieties that pair beauty with purpose, maintaining up-to-date germination tests and sharing planting windows that match our local seasons—so your garden keeps the story growing.