Key elements to growing painted daisies

These bright, tough plants, also known as pyrethrums, are invaluable for a border in a garden. Here are the facts behind the plant and what you need to do to grow them.

• The lacy dark green foliage forms a neat mound, emerging in spring as a bright green froth and darkening with age.
• Stems arise in midsummer. Each carrying one daisylike flower of red, pink or white.
• Single flowers have brightly coloured petals around the outside, with bright yellow, small tubular flowers forming a central disk.
• In double flowers, the central disk is mounded with larger tubular flowers in the same or a contrasting colour.
• Plants vary in height and range from 45 to 90 centimetres (18 to 36 inches). The taller ones may need staking, but are the best for cutting.
• Blooms last a long time as a cut flower, and it is used by commercial florists for this reason.

• Set out container-grown plants in spring, preferably in groups of three of the same variety, about 30 centimetres (12 inches) apart.
• Make sure the drainage is good as plants are short-lived in heavy, wet soil.
• Cut flower stems back to the base as soon as flowering is finished to encourage repeat blooms.
• Keep plants watered during periods of extended drought.
• In fall, protect the crowns with a mulch of a fluffy material, such as evergreen boughs. This will hold the snow and help prevent heaving due to frost action, especially near where midwinter thaws are common.

Plants may be attacked by aphids or spider mites. Here's what to look for:

• Aphids excrete a sticky liquid that makes the leaves shiny and, if not controlled, can weaken the plants. Spray them with insecticidal soap.
• Mites feed mainly on the underside of the leaves and cause a pale stippling; wash them off with a strong spray of water.

Here are some of the more common varieties:

• Robinson's Strain is a superior seed-grown form that is often separated into individual colours, the plants divided and sold as colour selections.
• Crimson Giant is a red single flower.
• 'Brenda is also a single flower with cerise pink flowers around a yellow disk.
• Eileen May Robinson is a salmon coloured single flower
• White Avalanche is also a single flower varietal.
• If you prefer double flowers, look for 'Pink Bouquet', which is rose pink with a silvery centre,  bright red 'Sensation', or pure white 'Venus'.

Painted daisies tend to be fairly short-lived if left to their own devices and need to be divided every three to four years to keep them from going into decline. This is the way to increase hybrids, which will not come true from seeds. Saving seeds and starting new plants generally results in poor colours and often result in deformed flowers. This is the best way to divide.

• Wait until new growth has started in spring, so you can see where the growing points will be.
• Lift plants and gently tease them apart into several smaller clumps. Try to get pieces with three or four shoots on each.
• Discard the middle of the old clump as this will have become hard and woody and will not grow well.
• Improve the soil in the planting area by digging in an 8 to 10 centimetre (three to four inch) layer of well-rotted compost, then replant at the same depth as the original plant.
• It is also helpful to water with a fertilizer with a high middle number as this encourages root production.

These growing tips from the pros should help you get the painted daisies growing tall and beautiful in your garden.