False Daisy

Basic Information

Seed Number

28

Seed Name

False Daisy

Variety

Not recorded

Category

Medicinal

Plant Family

Asteraceae

Plant Type

False daisy / Bhringraj (Eclipta prostrata)

Planting Method

Transplant

Seed Status

In Seed Bank

Created

2026-08-14 00:50:34

Updated

2026-08-19 15:35:29

Planting Information

Start Planting Date

Mar 10

Last Recommended Planting Date

Jun 15

Plantable Months

March, April, May, June

Indoor Start

Mar 10 – Apr 7

Direct Sow

Not Recommended

Transplant

May 19 – Jun 15

Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost

8 weeks

Transplant Weeks After Frost

2 weeks

Germination Days

12–105 days

Harvest/Maturity

Not recorded

Succession Planting

Not recorded

Growing Conditions

Ideal Soil Temperature

Warm soil; exact optimum not reliably established

Planting Depth

Surface sow or barely cover

Plant Spacing

12 in

Row Spacing

18-24 in

Thin-To Spacing

Not recorded

Sun Requirements

Full sun to partial shade

Water Needs

Prefers consistently moist to wet soil

Soil Preference

Adaptable to sandy, loamy or clay soils; prefers moist conditions and tolerates mildly acidic through mildly alkaline soil

Minimum Container Size

2-3 gal

Plant Height

12-24 in

Perennial/Biennial Status

Annual

Container Friendly

Yes

Trellis/Support Needed

No

Frost Tolerant

No

Heat Tolerant

Yes

Drought Tolerant

No

Pollinator Friendly

Yes

Medicinal

Yes

Garden Uses

Companion Planting

Storage

Seed Source/Brand

MSU Extension; Detroit frost dates; Almanac Detroit

Packet Year

Not recorded

Quantity Notes

Not recorded

Purchase Date

Not recorded

Expiration Year

Not recorded

Storage Box

Not recorded

Container

Not recorded

Envelope

Not recorded

Row

Not recorded

Slot

Not recorded

Storage Notes

Not recorded

Notes

Original Planting Method: Direct sow or start indoors
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: May 1 – Jul 1
Days to Harvest / Bloom: 60–100 days
Succession / Reusable Notes: Good for annual herb beds and pollinator strips.
Zone 6B Notes: Harvest flowers/leaves regularly depending on crop.
Companion Plants: Vegetables, calendula, chamomile, basil, dill, pollinator flowers
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Overcrowding
Sources: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar | Detroit frost dates: https://www.ufseeds.com/vegetable-planting-calendar-detroit-michigan.html | Almanac Detroit: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/MI/Detroit

[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Treat as an annual in Southeast Michigan. Start indoors because germination can be highly erratic, then transplant after weather has warmed and frost danger has passed.
Germination: Seed requires warmth and light and should be surface-sown or barely covered. Germination can be unusually irregular: approximately 12-24 days is commonly expected, but some lots may remain dormant for several months.
Harvest: Harvest above-ground herb during active growth before severe cold damages the plant.
Seed Saving: Allow mature flower heads to dry before collecting seed. Prevent unwanted self-seeding if spread is a concern.
Special Care: This species naturally favors wet places and may root from nodes touching moist soil. Eclipta alba is widely used as a synonym in the medicinal plant trade.
Research Source: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/eclipta-prostrata/ — annual to short-lived perennial habit, warm-season emergence and moist habitat
Research Source: USDA Plants Database — https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/classification/34493 — Eclipta prostrata botanical classification and Asteraceae family
Research Source: Strictly Medicinal Seeds — https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/eclipta-eclipta-alba-seeds-organic/ — surface sowing, light requirement, highly variable germination, spacing and height
Research Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service — https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=388857 — documented traditional medicinal use
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]