How to Care for a Painted Daisy Plant

These 3-inch flowers with bright yellow centers and petals in shades of pink and red are the first daisies to bloom in summer. Painted daisies (Tanacetum coccineum, formerly Chrysanthemum coccineum) are members of the chrysanthemum family, however the frilly, fernlike foliage on stems that grow 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall is distinctly different from that of most other garden chrysanthemums. Painted daisies thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 7, and don’t tolerate hot Southern summers.

Things You'll Need

Fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Provide painted daisies with full sun and a moist but well-drained soil.
- 2
  Pinch out the tip of the plants when they have 6 to 8 true leaves, and remove the tips from side-shoots as they form. This encourages a full, bushy growth habit.
- 3
  Water the plants during dry spells. Apply water slowly until it begins to run off rather than sinking into the soil. Painted daisies don’t tolerate excessive moisture, which causes the roots to rot.
- 4
  Fertilize the plants in spring before the buds begin to form. Use 2 or 3 pounds of a low-nitrogen fertilizer per 100 square feet, working it into the soil with a hoe. Take care not to damage the roots as you work. You can also use a liquid plant food, following the package instructions.
- 5
  Pick off the flowers when they fade. This process, called deadheading, helps prolong the bloom season.
- 6
  Divide the plants every year or two in spring. Painted daisies are short-lived plants if they become too crowded.

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