Are Gazanias Succulents?

Description

• Gazanias are also commonly known as treasure flowers. They are members of the daisy family and greatly resemble daisies, although they come in much brighter colors and have contrasting bands of darker colors to really draw attention to themselves. Their foliage is thin and grassy in appearance, which draws a striking contrast with the bold beauty of the flowers. The flowers are 4 to 5 inches in diameter.

Growing Conditions

• Gazanias love dry, hot and sandy soil. While they thrive in soil with low fertility, they do require well-draining soil in order to perform well. Gazanias make excellent container plants because they are very tolerant of heat radiating from buildings, patio surfaces and pavement. They also perform very well in rock gardens and xeriscapes, according to Cornell University.

Maintenance

• These are low-maintenance, easy-to-grow plants. Water them when rain is scarce and when they start to show even the slightest signs of stress. They will self-seed readily if you toss the dead flower heads elsewhere in the garden. They will not survive the winter, however, in any zone colder than 9 and will have to be overwintered indoors as houseplants or simply treated as annuals in those climates. Deadhead the plants regularly to start new plants and to encourage new blooms.

Growth Habit

• Gazanias are clump-forming, fairly low-growing plants that don't exceed heights of about 18 inches. They work well as bedding plants, positioned toward the front of the bed to fill in empty spaces. Gazanias are very interesting plants, considering their habit of closing at night and during cool, cloudy weather.