Tidy Tips are fast-growing and undemanding California wildflowers. These cool weather plants are native to the Western U.S. Annual Tidy Tips plants are great for naturalizing banks and roadways. It will look great in your flower bed, too. This guide on “How to Grow Annual Tidy Tips Flowers” will show you just how easy it is to grow these cute flowers.
Also called “Tidytips”, they are spring blooming, daisy-like flowers. They are bright yellow, with white tips, and grow 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Flower stems are sturdy. These small plants are members of the sunflower family. The plants are drought-resistant and ask for little attention. The bright blooms attract pollinators. Birds are also attracted to the flower seeds.
A Little Trivia: The Brits fell in love with Tidy Tips. They adopted them into their English Country Gardens.
Try growing Tidy Tips in rock gardens, flower beds, as a true wildflower, or even in containers on your balcony or deck.
Flower Colors: Yellow flowers with white tips.
Flowers Bloom: Spring to early Summer.
Plant Height: Small varieties grow just nine to twelve inches tall. Other varieties can grow up to two feet tall.
Ideal Soil pH: 5.0 – 8.0.
Plant Hardiness Zones: 3 – 10
Light Needs: Full sunlight to partial shade.
Plant Spacing: Space small varieties four to eight inches apart. For larger varieties, space them twelve to fourteen inches apart.
Toxic Plant? Yes.
Deer Resistant? No.
Number of Species: 14 species.
Plant Type: Hardy Annuals
Native To: California grasslands and ranges.
Botanical Name: Layia Platyglossa
Other Names: Beach Tidy Tips, Coastal Tidy Tips, White Daisy, Woodland Tidy Tips
NO!!
Eating Tidy Tips plants can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Keep this plant away from your children, pets, and your livestock.
Also, the plant can cause skin irritation. So, we recommend wearing gloves when working with this plant.
Our research found no medicinal applications for Tidy Tips plants.
Tidy Tips plants grow best in full, bright sunlight. Select a planting location where they will receive at least six to eight hours of direct sun. In hot regions, the plants benefit from a little partial shade, especially during the hottest afternoon hours. However, too little light results in a leggier plant with less sturdy stems. And, the plant produces fewer and smaller flowers.
Tidy Tips are grown from seed. They need light to germinate. The seeds germinate in up to 10-28 days, depending upon weather conditions. Sow seeds directly outdoors, early in the season, just before the last frost date in your area. Plant seeds just 1/8″ deep, or broadcast spread them in the area you want them. Water very lightly after planting the seeds. These tiny seeds can easily wash too deeply into the soil. Also, mark the planting area.
These prolific seeders will re-seed themselves for years to come.
Note: For indoor starts, we recommend using a heated germination mat, to increase the speed of germination. And, it, results in a higher germination rate.
Final Plant Spacing: Space plants four to six inches apart. As a wildflower, they compete with seeds and are tolerant of a little crowding.
Days to Germination: Seeds sprout in 10 – 28 days.
Annual Tidy Tips are very easy to grow. As a common wildflower, the plants require little or no care and attention. Select a growing location where they will receive full sun. However, if you live in a hotter area of the country, plant them where they are shaded from the afternoon sun.
They grow well in poor soil and tolerate almost any soil. But, the soil should be well-drained.
Once your Tidy Tip plants are established, they should grow well with few problems.
The plants require little fertilizer to thrive. As a matter of fact, if the soil is too rich, it produces lots of foliage and few blooms.
Use a general-purpose fertilizer only in the poorest of soils, and if the plants seem to lack vigor.
The plants are drought resistant. Add water only during hot periods and during extended droughts. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
They do not like wet soils. This can result in root rot.
For a neat and tidy appearance in the flower garden, weed around the plants while they are young.
Add a layer of mulch for appearance and to help retain soil moisture.
As an almost entirely maintenance-free plant, Tidy Tips flowers are the perfect candidates to grow in flowerpots on your balcony, or deck. And, these drought-resistant plants are forgiving if you forget to check the moisture levels in the planter.
For those who want to grow them on a balcony or patio, here are a few additional steps:
The plant requires little or no pruning. Simply remove the occasional sick, dead, or damaged leaves as you spot them.
Also, deadhead spent flowers to promote new buds to form and extend the blooming period.
If you want to harvest some of the seeds, leave a few spent blooms on a couple of the plants.
Also, Tidy Tips are good reseeders. Leave spent flowers on the plant at the end of the season to reseed the planting site year after year.
More on how to deadhead spent flower blooms.
Tidy Tip plants have few insect or disease problems.
They do not like hot or rainy weather. Root rot occurs in wet soil.
Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures, too.
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