Pericallis hybrida

Cinerarias grown in a conservatory, Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne

Better known as cineraria, this frost-sensitive perennial is grown as an annual in Sydney gardens (ht 30-60 cm), and forms cushions smothered in daisy flowers from midwinter till spring. The blooms have a diversity of hues, including pinks, red, blues, white, magenta and lavender-blue, many being bi-coloured. They enjoy part or full shade with reasonable, well-drained soil. They can be plunged into the ground when in full flower in spring for an instant effect in shade, and this can be a good option in colder areas where they might not grow well through the winter. In cool-climate gardens they are also grown in conservatories, as illustrated above. They grow very well in containers. Deadheading spent blooms will prolong the display. The original wild species occurred in the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores. Previous names for this plant include Cineraria cruentus, Cineraria hybrida, Senecio cruentus and Senecio hybridus.