Do African Daisies Like Shade?

Appearance

• African daisies grow 12 to 18 inches tall with a spreading habit that creates a mat of color in a flowerbed or border starting in April and continuing well into August. Their dark centers contrast with their brightly colored petals. The leaves of the African daisy are flat, long and narrow, light green with smooth edges. In a wildflower bed, gardeners often let the plant develop seed heads that winter over and germinate to form seedlings in subsequent years.

Light Requirements

• Like many annuals, African daisies prefer full sun. They may tolerate partial shade in the morning or late afternoon, but they thrive when they get unfiltered sun for at least six to eight hours a day. Their flowers close at night, in deep shade or on overcast days. Even if a gardener can coax a plant growing in partial shade to produce blooms, the blooms will close when the sun passes -- another reason to grow the daisies in full sun.

Culture

• Gardeners may sow seeds for African daisies in early spring. Seeds germinate at a depth of 1/16 inch after 10 to 30 days as long as soils reach temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds will not germinate in cooler weather, but they remain viable while they are dormant. Because daisies are drought-tolerant and easy to grow, gardeners often plant them in wildflower meadows or as a ground cover.

Considerations

• African daisies are low maintenance and easy to grow, but they do have several drawbacks. Once established, the daisies may become invasive and compete with native species, so gardeners must keep the plants pruned or pulled to prevent them from choking out other desirable specimens. The daisies do well in the garden, but they are less successful as a cut flower because the blooms close when they are not in full sun.