Larkdaisy
Location
Butterfly Garden
- Common Name: Larkdaisy (other common names: Brazilian Buttonbush, Porcupine Flower, Brazilian Button Flower, Mexican Bachelor Button, Pineapple Sangria, Lark Daisy, Porcupine Flower, or Manaus Beauty)
- Scientific Name: Centratherum punctatum
- Family Name: Asteraceae
- Origin: Brazil, South America (Venezuela to northern Argentina), Panama, Nicaragua, Trinidad
- Height: 1’-2’
- Width: 3’ – 4’
- Growth: Fast growing, spreading and dense.
- Zone: 9 – 11
- Light Needs: Full sun.
- Salt Tolerance: Unknown
- Soil/PH/Texture: Prefers sand, loam and clay soils and mildly acidic – neutral soil (pH. 6.1 – 7.5).
- Soil Moisture: Average water needs but well-drained soil.
- Drought Tolerance: Drought tolerant but will die if frozen.
- Pests/Diseases: No pests or diseases of major concern.
- Growing Conditions: Minimum maintenance, but make sure to deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings the next year. Intolerant of frost.
- Characteristics: This deciduous plant has fragrant leaves that are less than 2” in length, olive – light green, simple, alternately arranged, elliptic (oval), serrate margins, with pinnate venation. The flowers bloom in the summer and fall, are button-like, 1”, and are lavender – pink in color.
- Propagation: May seed itself yearly but can be propagated by cuttings also.
- Wildlife: Attractive to bees, birds and butterflies. Tolerates rabbits and deer.
- Facts: The Genus name comes from the Greek word kentron meaning “a spur” and antheros meaning “a barb or spine” and the specific epithet means “spotted”.
- Designer Considerations: Used for ground cover, mass plantings, edging, cascading over walls and looks great in a rock garden. It can also be suitable in pots 3 galllon or larger for patios.
