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Native Plant Society of Texas

Doll's Daisy

Boltonia diffusa

Other common name(s):

Smallhead Doll's Daisy

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

.5
to
1
ft.

Spread

.25
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Loam, Moist, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium, High

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Riparian, Wetland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Purple, White, Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

A nectar source during the late summer when few other plants are flowering. Its dense root system helps to stabilize the soil, reducing erosion in wetland areas. Ideal for use in wetland conservation efforts. Thrives in a variety of growing conditions, but it typically grows in moist to wet soils. In the garden give lots of space to spread or thin as needed for space. Native habitat: streambanks, swamps, sloughs, bottomland prairies, bottomland forests, pond margins, ditches, roadsides, and moist, disturbed areas.

Description

Blooms July-November. Boltonia diffusa is a small, erect plant rarely more than 8 inches high. It spreads by stolons (horizontal stems running along the surface of the ground). It has many daisy-like flower heads with white or lavender ray florets and yellow disc florets. It is hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive structures, facilitating cross-pollination among individuals. Once pollinated, they produce small seeds that can be dispersed by wind or water. Leaves are mostly linear. The fruit is a cypsela: dry, one-seeded.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Clump Division This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere), Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the rhizome roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out. Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section with eyes. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided rhizomes about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout the following growing season. Division is best done in spring or fall (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth) Plants generally need division every 3 to 4 years. 1) https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-boltonia/#Boltonia_propagation 2) http://www.theeyrye.com/boltonia.html 3) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Boltonia_diffusa.html
Seed No Treatment Seed collected from cultivars is unlikely to produce plants like its parents. Boltonia seeds germinate in 7 to 8 weeks at 60°F (15°C). Allow flowers to dry on the plant if you want to collect seed for replanting. 1) https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-boltonia/#Boltonia_propagation
Stem Cutting Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant. In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. 1) http://www.theeyrye.com/boltonia.html
Seed Stratification Boltonia seeds need to be cold-stratified in order to germinate. This can be accomplished by filling a plastic bag or other sealable container with moistened peat moss or sand, and placing the seeds within the substrate. Place the container/bag in the refrigerator for 60 days. After this period has passed, remove the seeds. Place your seeds in lukewarm water for six hours. Viable seeds will sink to the bottom, and non-viable seeds will float to the top. You can discard any seeds that float. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds on top of the soil of the seed tray, and sprinkle soil over them. Water with your spray bottle, taking care to not dislodge any of the small seeds. Place your tray in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between 3 and 4 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home. The seed heads on Boltonia plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them. 1) http://www.theeyrye.com/boltonia.html

About the Region

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This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason