Gazania: Beautiful and hard to kill ornamental flowering plant – Details and care tips
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The gazania flower, named after Gaza’s 15th century Greek-Italian scholar Theodorus of Gaza, is an annual South African low-maintenance flower. The gazania, known as the treasure flower or African daisy, is a semi-hardy annual plant that can withstand the cold conditions.
Quick Details of Gazania
| Other Common Names | Treasure flower, African daisies |
| Type | Flowering ornamental plant. |
| Maintenance | Low/ moderate |
| Flowering | Late spring/early summer |
| Light | Bright direct light |
| Water | Regular watering |
| Temperature | Can survive the harsh climate |
| Soil | Any well-drained potting soil |
| Fertilizer | Any house plant fertilizer |
| Habitat | South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Angola |
| Toxicity | No |
| Common Diseases | Mostly resistant to diseases |
| Scientific name | Gazania rigens |
Gazania Buying Instructions
- Buy a healthy plants with any damage
- Plant should not have any kind of pest attack
- Leaves of the plant should be green and should not have any kind of spots.
Overview of Gazania
Gazania is a flowering plant genus of the Asteraceae family which is native to Southern Africa. They grow big, daisy-like composite flowerheads in brilliant yellow and orange shades, over long summer periods.
They are often planted as a ground cover because they are tolerant of drought. Gazania species are grown for the brilliant color of their flowerheads that appear in the late spring and are frequently flowering throughout the summer to fall. They prefer a sunny position and tolerate dryness and poor soils. Many cultivars have been chosen for a variety of colors and habits. They are usually cultivated as half-hardy annuals in temperate regions. The trailing gazania (Gazania rigens var. Leucolaena), is a widely grown variety.
It is commonly used as ground cover and can be planted massively to cover large areas or embankments, supported by its rapid rate of growth.
Special feature:
The flowers come in a wide variety of colour and pattern. They bloom during the day and close during the night.
Usage and Advantage of Gazania
- Mostly used as ornamental plants.
- They can be used to add color to the rock gardens and xeriscapes and can be potted in a stunning hanging basket with their trailing stems and bright blooms
- Gazania is commonly used in dry areas as a ground cover, or to help control soil erosion.
General Care for Gazania
Soil: Gazania can tolerate drought and prefers well-drained sandy soil. The plant can however tolerate medium to light clay or loam soils and acidic or alkaline conditions. Long wet conditions or soggy soils can lead to diseases such as root rots or fungal infections.
Watering: These plants are tolerant of drought conditions the main reason being the presence of their leathery foliage. Gazanias like hot, dry conditions and work well with flowers similarly adapted, such as vinca, cosmos, verbena, or globe amaranth. They do not require much water and can be watered only when the soil gets dry. Overwatering can cause root rot and spur fungal diseases.
Light: Flowers of Gazania flourish in full light. They require direct sunlight. Shade in the morning or afternoon can cause the flowers to remain closed for a portion of the day and may cause the plants to grow lanky, exceeding their normal height of 6 to 10 inches.
Pruning: The young growing tips can be pinched off to have a bushier growth.
Fertilizer: The gazania grows in low fertility soils. Compost and added fertilizer are not required. Deadheading the wilting flowers prevents early seeding thus increasing the blooming period.in case the plant looks unhealthy or wilted, cut the plant to one third its height. This helps in the growth of a healthier plant.
Pests and other problems for Gazania
Gazania is highly immune to diseases and pests. Powdery mildew, bacterial leaf spot, and crown rot can all occur, and they are typically a sign that the area is too damp to effectively develop gazania.
Crown rot usually affects the root and is a fungal disease. It is caused by plants that are grown in soggy overwatered soil.
Bacterial leaf spot is caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. Vitians and results in the formation of spots on the infected parts of the leaves which further spreads throughout causing the leaves to dry and wither.
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that results in the formation of a white powdery appearance on the leaves.
Control:
Most of the diseases are caused due to the excess moisture present on the surface of the plants and can be prevented by reducing the water content present on the surface of the plant and not over-watering them. In case of severe cases, a fungicide can be used.
Propagation of Gazania
The division is the easiest form of propagation of gazania. To divide gazania, dig up a clump, digging around the plant in a wide circle to prevent the roots from getting damaged. Lift the clump out of the soil and split into smaller sections. Make sure every section has three to five leaves and a few healthy roots. Plant them in the ground or pots
Seeds: indoor propagation -Sprinkle the seeds gently on the soil surface and cover the seeds with as little as 1/4 inch of dirt. Cover the pots with clear plastic, or side them in a plastic bag to keep the soil from drying out. Place the tray in bright, indirect light and normal ambient temperature. Mist the potting soil lightly, keeping it slightly moist but not soggy, as needed. Remove plastic on the appearance of seedlings. Start daily feeding when the seedlings have a collection of real leaves.
Outdoor propagation through seeds: The seeds can be planted after the winters. The addition of fertilizers during sowing can help boost the growth of the plants. Plant the seeds in rows, or evenly disperse them on the soil. Once planted, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and lightly mist the area with a pipe and spray nozzle.
