Gazania

Description:

Gazanias bear large daisy-like flowers in shades of orange and yellow. The leaves are simple, narrow, lance-shaped sometimes downy with paler undersides.

Other names:

Teasure flower, Namaquas

Other Names

Teasure flower, Namaquas

Plant Summary

Size:

15 – 25 cm (w and h)

Flowers:

October to April

Growth Rate:

Fast

Origin:

Watering Needs

Light Preference

Frost Sensitivity

Maintenance

Gazania

care guide

When to ferilise

September – October

How to Fertilise

Mix in 3:1:5 or 5:1:5 fertiliser or an organic pelletised fertiliser, or well-rotted manure in early spring.

Gazanias aren’t self-cleaning and require dead heading to encourage blooming.

If grown as a perennial, prune the plant in late winter or early spring (beginning only in the second season) by cutting the foliage back 5 – 7.5 cm’s above the ground with pruning shears. This will refresh the plant and encourage new growth in the spring.

Grown easily in well draining soils with a slightly acidic pH.

Gazanias can tolerate poor soil, making them ideal seaside garden additions.

Water once a week in the summer, and once a month in winter (slightly more if the weather is particularly hot).

When

October to April

How to encourage flowering

Deadhead spent flowers to prolong the blooming season and encourage your Gazania to create more blooms.

Gazania

propagation

Gazanias are easily propagated by division.

How to propagate Gazanias by division

Prepare the new spot by digging holes twice the size of the estimated root system (this will depend on how large the sections will be that you’ll be planting).
Prepare the soil by adding a generous amount of organic fertiliser and bonemeal to the soil.
Dig up a clump by digging in a wide circle around the plant to prevent damaging the roots.
Lift the clump from the soil with a garden fork and divide it into smaller sections.
Be sure each section has three to five shoots and several healthy roots.
Place the plant in the hole at the same soil depth it was at in its previous location.
Pat soil around the roots, and then water the area deeply, providing enough water to fully saturate the root zone.
Continue to keep the soil moist until new growth appears, which indicates the roots are established. After that, water only when the soil feels dry.

Gazania

problems

Fungal problems are common in Gazanias, especially when they are over watered. Fungal problems include Botrytis, downy mildew, Edema, powdery mildew, and root rot.

To prevent most fungal problems, avoid watering Gazanias from overhead in the winter and do not water too frequently when it is humid or cool.

Common pests include Aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips. Introduce predator insects like lady bugs and hornets to your garden or use a general pesticide to treat infestations.