Gazania Flowers

Traits

• Gazania flowers are a perennial used mostly as an annual that blooms throughout the summer into early fall. The blooms open in full sun and close at night and on cloudy days. They perform best in rich soil; however, they are tolerant of poor, sandy soils. The plants grow 6 to 12 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Gazanias are an increasingly popular choice for gardeners due to their ease of care and ornamental properties.

Varieties

• Several varieties of Gazania flowers vary in bloom color and size. The Chansonette Series features a variety of colored blooms that emerge in early summer and reach a height of 8 to 10 inches tall. The Daybreak Series boasts large 4-inch blooms in shades of yellow, orange, pink and white. The dwarf Mini-Star Series produces many blooms in shades of red, pink, yellow, orange and white and grows between 6 and 8 inches tall. The Talent Mix Series produces yellow, pink, orange and white blooms and features silvery foliage.

Propagation

• There are three methods for propagating Gazania flowers: seed, cuttings and clump division. Seeds are harvested from dried blooms and can be simply shaken loose for later germination. When propagating from cuttings, choose a stem that has not produced a bloom, apply a rooting agent and keep in water until a root system forms. Since Gazanias are a spreading plant, you can also dig them up and divide the root clumps to produce additional Gazanias.

Care

• Gazanias require little care in order to thrive. Since these plants are drought-resistant, weekly watering is sufficient. Over-watering promotes root rot and can ultimately kill these plants, so well-drained soil is optimal for their growth. An annual application of a well-balanced fertilizer in a sparse amount is all the nutrient addition that is necessary to promote Gazania growth. As long as these plants receive an abundance of sun with minimal watering and fertilizer, Gazanias perform well in the garden. In order to promote additional blooms, you may pinch off dying flowers so new buds form in their place.