About GazaniaTreasure Flowers
Care of Gazania flowers is limited and often non-existent if you have neither the time nor the inclination to care for them. Botanically called Gazania rigens, treasure flowers is a more common name. The plant is often referred to as the African daisy (though not to be confused with Osteospermum African daisies). The South African native often trails along the ground. In areas where it is hardy, landscapers use this plant in combination with other low growers as an ornamental ground cover to edge lawns or even replace parts of them. Learning how to prune trailing Gazanias allows the home gardener to use Gazania treasure flowers in this manner. When growing Gazanias, expect the plant to reach 6 to 18 inches (15-46 cm.) in height and about the same in spread as it trails on the ground. A clumping mound of grass-like foliage produces Gazania treasure flowers. This easy-to-grow bloom is tolerant of poor, dry, or sandy soil. Heat and salty spray don’t deter its growth or beautiful blossoms either, making it a perfect specimen for oceanfront growing.
Tips for Growing Gazanias
Growing Gazanias bloom in vivid shades of red, yellow, orange, pink, and white and can be two tone or multi-colored. Showy blooms appear in early summer through early fall on this annual wildflower. Care of Gazania flowers is simple once they’re planted and established in the garden. Gazania plant care does not involve much of anything, other than watering. Although they’re drought resistant, expect more and bigger blooms when you water. Even drought resistant flowers benefit from water, but the Gazania takes droughty conditions better than most. You can begin growing Gazanias by planting seeds directly into the ground or container when all chances of frost are past. Start seeds indoors earlier for the earliest blooms of Gazania treasure flowers.
How to Prune Trailing Gazanias
Gazania treasure flowers close at night. Deadhead spent blooms when growing Gazanias. Once you’ve got Gazanias growing, propagate more from basal cuttings. Cuttings can be taken in fall and overwintered indoors, away from freezing temperatures. The plant from which the cuttings are taken will benefit from this basic Gazania plant care and you can get more plants started. Take several cuttings if you plant to use them in a large area as groundcover. Get the cuttings started in 4 inch (10 cm.) pots, in a good quality potting soil. Plant rooted cuttings in spring at 24 to 30 (61-76 cm.) inches apart. Keep watered until plants are established, then water every two weeks throughout summer. Overhead irrigation is acceptable when watering Gazanias.
