Gazania, easy and summer-worthy

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Yellow and orange petals with sharply marked contours unfurl by day, then shut tight at night and stay closed under cloud until sunlight returns. Gazania (Gazania splendens) is a drought-tolerant, summer-long bloomer for beds, edges, rockeries and balcony boxes; give it full sun and light, well-drained soil and it flowers without a single drop of water.

It is also surprisingly easy to care for given that it is extremely resilient. Even without watering a single drop, you’ll have flowers all summer long!

Planting gazania

Preferably choose to plant in spring in a blend of earth and soil mix.

• Try to opt for a spot in the sun to have beautiful flowers.
• Avoid very heavy soil, better to plant in light soil.
• Water lightly only at the beginning.

For sowing from seed, proceed to sow under shelter in late winter to early spring.  Transplant once to a nursery pot during the month of mid-spring, and set in place in late spring.

• The sowing isn’t always easy, beginners beware…

• Set each gazania so the crown sits level with the soil surface, never buried, because soil piled over the neck traps moisture and causes the rosette to rot.
• Space gazania plants roughly 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) apart, so the rosettes knit into a continuous carpet without shading each other out.
• On clay or compacted ground, improve drainage by adding organic matter and planting on a slight mound or raised bed, as gazanias need sharp drainage and are prone to rot in cold, waterlogged soil.
• With frost-tender plants such as tomatoes, courgettes and beans, wait until all risk of frost has passed before setting them outdoors, since a late frost will blacken their soft, shelter-raised growth.

The gazania year, stage by stage

From seed tray to winter mulch, gazania asks for very little, but each step has its moment. Here is what the article says to do, and when.

Miss none of these and the plant still flowers; follow them and the display simply lasts longer.

Pruning, and caring for gazania

Gazania care is practically pointless, but the blooming will be all the nicer if you:

• Plant in flower plant soil mix.
• Cut off wilted flowers as soon as they wilt. This keeps the plant from wasting energy. Instead, it dedicates itself to growing new flowers.
• Water your gazania from time to time if it is grown in pots.
• Possible to add flower plant fertilizer during the blooming season.

Gazania in winter

Gazania is usually sold as an annual wherever it freezes. However, with a little protection, there’s a good chance of overwintering without dying off.

When potted, your gazania will die if it freezes. Try moving the pots to a greenhouse or lean-in where it won’t freeze.

In the ground, gazania has a greater chance of survival, especially if the soil drains well. Remember to protect the plant for winter. For example, spread a 6-inch (15 cm) layer of loose hay or dead leaves. Only remove this protection when temperatures consistently rise above 40°F (5°C).

All there is to know about gazania

For a named variety to look out for, ‘Big Kiss White Flame’ brings the sharply marked petal contours of this drought-tolerant perennial to flower beds, edges, rocky ground and balcony boxes alike, flowering all summer without watering.

This cute perennial typically grown as an annual. It has very beautiful colored flowers in shades of yellow and orange, and their contours are sharply marked.

It grows perfectly well in perennial flower beds, along edges or in rocky ground. Gazania also does great in garden boxes for your balconies and terraces.

What makes gazania so unique and popular aside from its beautiful blooming is the fact that it tolerates drought and doesn’t need any watering.

Whether it’s in a pot, a flower bed, and even smack in the middle of a rock mound, its ornamental impact is guaranteed!