Pericallis Plants produce a large daisy-like blossom with a contrasting dark eye that sits atop foliage that is most often triangular or heart-shaped and ranging in color from medium to dark green. The Pericallis genus contains around 14 different species, some of which grow wild in temperate North America and some that are native to Madeira and the Canary Islands. Considered a perennial by many, Pericallis is most often grown as an annual and is most often called Ragwort, a somewhat unattractive-sounding nickname, considering its beauty. Ragwort does not tolerate frost or bloom during excessive heat, but has been known to become “revitalized” when the temperatures are again between 35°F and 80°F, being at its absolute best between 55°F and 72°F.
Pericallis, pronounced per-ee-KAL-liss, was formerly classified in the Senecio or Cinerariais genera and is one of the first to bloom in late winter or early spring, taking a break during the heat of summer and then blooming again in the fall. Most Ragwort cultivars will self-seed, especially in cool, damp climates, so if you want to limit their growth, remove the seed heads before they drop. If your summers are hot, cut the plants back by half when the blooms fade, so as to encourage a second blooming in the fall. Pericallis will tolerate containers, but will grow best when planted in the ground and will benefit greatly from a water-soluble fertilizer such as Neptune’s Harvest.
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