Cheerful Gazanias are ideal for gardeners who don’t spend too much time in the garden but would like colour and a showy display with little maintenance. These happy little indigenous gems just keep on giving, demanding little care.
Gazanias flower profusely from October to as late as March, and they come in a vast array of colours and colour combinations. They are evergreen, water-wise and drought resistant. They are very low maintenance plants with lots of rewards. And butterflies love them!
Leaf colour varies from light to dark green and grey. Their petals close when the sun goes down, only to open up brightly with the first rays.
Planting Gazanias
Gazanias are not fussy about where they grow, but for the best results and more profuse flowering, plant them in well-drained soil with compost ibn the garden and potting soil when planting in containers. And watch out for overwatering, as it will cause rot.
They need full sun and will close their heads in the shade as they do when the sun goes down. Gazanias are cold and frost hardy.
They grow up to about 30 cm and have a shallow root system. Gazanias are regarded as good soil stabilisers.
They can be planted individually in beds, as border plants, or in containers. The best display is achieved by planting them in masses and by planting several species of Gazania together. They make excellent groundcovers.
Caring for Gazanias
Gazanias are easy to grow almost anywhere and with little maintenance, but they will respond rewardingly with a general fertiliser every now and then. Although drought-resistant, you will enjoy more and bigger blooms when you water.
Deadhead spent blooms regularly. They are easily propagated from basal cuttings. Plant cuttings in spring and keep watered until the plants are established.
Spoilt for choice
You are spoilt for choice when buying Gazanias. They come in an array of beautiful colours and shapes.
Greenside Nursery offers a wide variety of Gazanias. Here are some of our favourite picks:
Gazania ‘Molten Lava ‘Red’ has striking red to orange flowers on longer than usual stems with dark green foliage. It is a tuft-forming perennial or ground cover with Daisy-like ?owers throughout the year.
Gazania Big Kiss White is a spreading groundcover with huge white flowers.
Gazania Big Kiss White Flame boasts extra large white flowers with dark pink stripes.
Gazania Big Kiss Yellow Flame smiles with extra-large golden-yellow flowers with darker stripes.
Gazania Sunbathers Katue Red flowers longer in low light. They have striking orange-red flowers with orange edges.
Gazania SunBathers TM Nahui also flowers longer in low light and sprouts double orange-yellow flowers.
Gazania hybrid Pink Chameleon has striking flowers in shades of pink with darker stripes on the petals. The leaves are dark green with a white woolliness.
Gazania SunBathers TM Totonaca’s pretty bi-coloured red petals outlined with yellow tips is an eye-catching variety that stays open longer.
The Gazania rigens varieties vary from bright yellow, to yellow and purple. They produce masses of vibrant flowers.
Visit Greenside to see our wide variety of Gazanias or contact us for advice to get the most out of your Gazanias.