FNPS Plant Database
Borrichia frutescens
sea-oxeye daisy
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
sea-oxeye daisy
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Borrichia frutescens
Family:
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Plant Specifics
Form:
shrub
Size:
2-4 (6) ft tall by 2-3 ft wide
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
yellow
Fruit Color:
black
Phenology:
evergreen; blooms year round but primarily in spring-summer
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Native borders, foundation plant, especially in salty environments. Can be trimmed.
Considerations:
Suckers heavily, forming large patches.
Availability:
Propagation:
seed, division, or cuttings; forms clones (patches of genetically identical "stems")
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Stays Wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury.
Soil or Other Substrate:
Soil pH:
Calcareous (high pH)
Suitable to Grow In:
8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
Birds and small mammals use the seeds.
Nectar plant for great southern white (Ascia monuste), gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), southern broken-dash (Wallengrenia otho) and other butterflies (IRC website). Attracts a variety of bees and other pollinators.
Native Habitats:
Salt marsh, tidal flats
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Natural range is restricted to coastal areas.
Citations:
Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. Natives For Your Neighborhood. https://regionalconservation.org/ircs/database/plants/PlantPage.asp?TXCODE=Borrfrut , accessed 2025. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.
Nelson, Gil. 2003. Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Patton, Sean, and Kendall Southworth. 2025. Florida's Aquatic Butterfly Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful Backyard Habitat for Attracting 70+ Species with 100+ Native Plants. Pineapple Press, Palm Beach.
Workman, Richard W. 1980. Growing Native: Native Plants for Landscape Use in Coastal South Florida. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Inc.: Sanibel, FL.
