Anacyclus pyrethrum: Mount Atlas Daisy – Ferny Foliage and White Daisy Flowers

Anacyclus pyrethrum – Mount Atlas Daisy, Spanish Chamomile

Anacyclus pyrethrum, known as Mount Atlas Daisy or Spanish Chamomile, is a low, mat-forming perennial with finely divided, fern-like, silvery-gray foliage that forms a beautiful carpet. In late spring to early summer, it produces a profusion of white, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers, each petal often flushed pink on the reverse. The flowers close at night and on cloudy days.

Native to the Atlas Mountains, this plant demands full sun and sharp, gritty drainage. It thrives in poor, alkaline soils and is extremely drought-tolerant. It is perfect for rock gardens, crevices, alpine troughs, and dry slopes. The foliage is evergreen in mild winters. Historically, the root was used as a toothache remedy (pyrethrum). A charming, resilient little plant for the most challenging sunny, dry spots.

Plant Profile