Smallhead doll's daisy (Boltonia diffusa) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Boltonia interior, Cacotanis ciliata
Family
Asteraceae (daisy family)
Origin
South-eastern USA (Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi valley)
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
20 cm
Temperature
10–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Hardness
Tolerant (estimate)
Care level
expert
Lighting
Full sun to part shade, emersed

Care

Warning: as far as our sources show, this is a land plant of moist ground, not an aquarium plant. Kept fully underwater it is likely to weaken and die, so grow it emersed in a paludarium or bog garden, with only its roots in water. Smallhead doll's daisy (family Asteraceae) is a small perennial of the US Gulf Coast states from Texas to Florida and the lower Mississippi valley north to Illinois, with outlying populations to Virginia. It spreads by runners along the ground, rarely exceeds 20 cm, and has many small daisy flowers with white or lilac rays and yellow centres. Wikipedia says nothing about aquarium use, and we know of no reliable reports of it growing submerged. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltoniadiffusa); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

By runners, which root along the ground, or by seed.

Compatibility and tank mates

Do not sell or buy it as a true aquarium plant; it belongs in a paludarium, bog garden or damp border.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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