Kinds of Yellow Gerber Daisies

Wild Gerbera

• The two wild parent species for commercial hybrids were G. jamesoni, which bears large orange-scarlet flower heads, and G. viridiflora, which bears small white flower heads delicately tinged with lilac. Both species are from the Transvaal grasslands of northern South Africa.

Israel

• In Israel, growers bred yellow Gerbera that are tolerant of high heat and extreme day/night temperature changes, intense sunlight, and relatively salty irrigation water. These hybrids are Antonio (golden yellow), Martha Lucia (near primary yellow), Pia (bright yellow) and Sharon (paler yellow with a hint of green).

Australia

• In the Yarra Valley wine district about 20 miles northeast of Melbourne in southern Australia, commercial growers developed yellow cultivars tolerant of cool weather and high humidity. Their hybrids are Goldfinger (medium yellow), Essandra (medium yellow), Mariva (medium yellow), Golden Serena (hint of orange) and Cobra (light yellow).

Guatemala

• At 5,000 feet altitude, the volcanic tropical highlands near La Antigua, Guatemala, enjoy temperate weather year round, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The yellow cultivars are amazingly diverse in this climate. Seven standard and 13 miniature varieties are available in a range from palest yellows to vibrant golden orange-yellows.

California

• Carpenteria on the California coast north of Los Angeles enjoys mild summers and cool winters moderated by a cold current offshore and about 30 inches of rain annually. Yellow cultivars in this area are Climax (gold), Duella (mid-yellow), Essandre (goldish yellow), Ginger (buttercream), Heatwave (yellow) and Renato (golden yellow).