False daisy is a short-lived perennial to annual in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. This plant is found in warm temperate to tropical areas worldwide and has prostrate or ascending stems. Stems are purplish and can root at the nodes. Plants germinate in late spring through summer. This species can be found growing in ditches, near rivers and swamps and also in drain holes of containers. Plants can reach over 3 feet in height and width given sufficient space. Typically, the plant will flower in summer and early fall then die after frost. Depending on the location, it can bloom year round. Seed heads are white and ripening fruit is button-like. Although some preemergence herbicides will suppress this weed, it is difficult achieving high levels of control. Hand weeding large plants is difficult due to the extensive root growth and adventitious rooting of stems. This plant prefers full or partial sun, wet to mesic conditions, and loamy or mucky soils and is most often found in disturbed wetland habitats. The leaves contain nicotine which acts as an insecticide. It has been used in herbal medicine worldwide. In some parts of this country, it is considered a weed and in some areas, it is considered an endangered species. The weak, spreading habit of this plant allows the stems to come in contact with the ground, thereby rooting at the nodes can occur. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 8 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are narrow elliptic and shallowly serrated or crenate, base cuneate or attenuate, tip acute, and pubescent on both surfaces. They can be up to 5 inches long and 1 inch across.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Head; Insignificant
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Ray florets white, inconspicuous, disk florets white, sometimes yellow with lobes, but are most distintctive when young and are flat and green. Flowers usually 1/2- 1/3 inch across
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer; Winter
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Brown or black flat achene 2 mm long, compressed and narrowly winged
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Fleshy, sappy green sometimes with a red tinge and appressed hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Asia, India, Brazil, North America
Distribution
AL , AR , AZ , CA , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , SD , TX , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON
Wildlife value
Attracts small butterflies, bees, wasps, and flies.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used in Ayurveda medicine in India and in Asia in traditional medicine.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Pond
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden; Water Garden