Beach sunflower (Wollastonia biflora)
Care, watering, light and tips for Beach sunflower on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Asteraceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 0–35 °C
About Beach sunflower
Wollastonia biflora, also known as Beach Sunflower or false Jerusalem artichoke, is a vigorous, sprawling perennial plant from the Asteraceae family, native to tropical coastlines. It is characterized by its bright green leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom for much of the year. It is ideal for covering large areas in coastal gardens, slopes, or as a trailing plant in pots where its long stems can cascade.
Native range
Tropical coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to the Pacific islands.
Care tips
This plant thrives in full sun, although it tolerates some partial shade. It is very drought-tolerant once established, but regular watering during dry spells will encourage more abundant flowering. It prefers well-drained soils, even sandy ones, and is not demanding regarding fertility. A common mistake to avoid is overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.
How to save a dying Beach sunflower
- Warning signs
- Yellow or brown, wilted leaves, soft stems. Could be over or underwatering.
- First aid
- Check soil moisture. If dry, water deeply. If soggy, aerate and reduce watering.
- What kills it
- Overwatering causes root rot. Prolonged drought quickly dehydrates it.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes! It's resilient. Act fast, prune damaged parts, adjust watering/light.