Gazanias offer gorgeous colors as well as excellent heat and drought tolerance.
Gazania is very easy to grow because of its extreme heat and drought tolerance.
Its beautiful flowers, which can stretch to 4 inches across, come in vibrant colors.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Gazania is most commonly grown as an annual.
However, several perennial varieties can survive winters down to Zone 4.
While very similar in appearance, hardy and annual gazania have a few differences.
Credit: Justin Hancock
They also bloom more often and for a longer time.
They also tend to have slightly smaller flowers and more foliage overall.
It’s important to note that the blooms of all gazania varieties areonly open during the day.
Credit: Scott Little
Blossoms are held tightly closed at night and even on stormy or overcast days.
Where to Plant Gazania
Give gazanias asmuch sun as possible; full sun is best.
The most important thing to note with gazania is that it doesn’t like to stay wet.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Gazanias will do well in nearly any situation, from container gardens to trailing groundcover.
They makeexcellent edging plants for walkwaysand thrive in rock gardens.
As long as they get bright sunlight most of the day, gazanias will prosper.
Credit: Graham Jimerson
How and When to Plant Gazania
Plant gazania in early spring in well-draining soil.
The pH level isn’t important as long as the soil remains dry most of the time.
Dig a hole as deep and one and a half times as wide as the nursery container.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Remove the plant from the pot and gently loosen the roots.
Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with soil.
Water lightly to settle the soil.
Credit: Hedrich-Blessing Studio
Space multiple plants 12 inches to 3 feet depending on variety.
Gazania Care Tips
These tough plants don’t require much care or maintenance.
Light
The most crucial element for gazania isfull sunlightand as much of it as possible.
Credit: John Reed Forsman
When it senses shade or darkness, the flowers close up.
Gazania may become leggy if planted where there’s too much shade.
Avoid planting gazania in spots where you’ll spend summer evenings because their flowers will be closed.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Soil and Water
Gazania prefers loosesoil that drains welland is a bit sandy.
In addition, they prefer a neutral pH (7) but will do fine in more alkaline soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Gazania loves hot, dry temperatures and low humidity.
They can grow as perennials in tropical climates.
If it gets cold in your garden, protect your plants from the chill by covering them with mulch.
Fertilizer
There’s no need to fertilize gazania.
Pruning
Perennial gazanias should be pruned in early spring.
Cut the plants to about 1/3 of their height if they begin to look spindly or worn.
Potting and Repotting Gazania
It’s easy to grow gazania in pots.
Gazania grown from seeds also do well in pots.
Plant them around the edges of the pot to showcase their trailing properties.
Potted gazanias can be brought indoors to overwinter.
Pests and Problems
Gazanias have few problems with pests or diseases other than common garden pests.
However, keep an eye out formealybugson indoor plants, and keep soil dry to avoid root rot.
Types of Gazania
Gazania varieties come in many colors and patterns.
Their palette is primarily warm, showcasingbright yellows, oranges, or reds with splashes of hot pinks.
In many cases, flowers come in combinations of those colors as well.
Blossoms typically have a base color with brushstrokes of a deeper tone through the middle.
Although perennial in Zones 9-11, they grow as annuals in all regions.
‘Sunbather’s Sunset’ Gazania
Gazania’Sunbather’s Sunset' offers amber-orange double flowers.
It grows 18 inches tall and wide.
It grows 10 inches tall.
It grows 10 inches tall.
Beautiful, satiny flowers in sunset colors wave above ferny, blue-green foliage.
California poppies are a cool-season annual that likes poor soils, especially sandy soils.
They offer great color early in the growing season but fade once the heat of summer hits.
Lisianthus can be challenging to grow, especially from seed, so start with established seedlings.
Plant them in rich, well-drained soil in full sun after all danger of frost has passed.
Keep moist, but don’t overwater.
Pentas
Pentas is one of thebest butterfly-attracting plants.
It blooms all summer long, even during the hottest weather.
However, it does best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
They also attract birds and pollinators.
Gazania was named for a Greek Theologian, Theodore of Gaza.
Gaza means riches in Greek.
It’s believed that’s why gazania is known as the treasure flower.
Gazania is safe to have in your garden if you have children or pets.
