Family: Asteraceae

These brilliantly coloured, daisy-like perennials from South Africa have very tenacious roots, making them excellent soil binders on steep slopes. They will also hold and stabilize sand in seaside gardens. In rock gardens, they provide patches of colour in summer and autumn, opening with the morning sun and closing in the late afternoon, and also look attractive in pots or tubs. The flowers of the species come mostly in varying shades of yellow, with distinctive brown or black markings, and the entire or deeply lobed, long and narrow leaves form basal rosettes. Hybrids in various shades of pink, red, mahogany and cream are available. Some have attractive stripes.

Species

G. x hybrida, treasure flower, to 30 cm (12 in), is available in many colours including pink, beige, white and orange, often with attractive markings.

G. rigens, growing to 30 cm (12 in), is probably the showiest of the species, with various shades of orange or yellow flowers, marked with black and white.

G. rigens var. uniflora has smaller, yellow flowers.

Cultivation

Gazanias are fairly tough plants and will grow well in a sunny position in most soils. Apply a slow-acting fertilizer prior to flowering. To rejuvenate, trim back the foliage and cut off the outside shoots and dead growth. If a number of different varieties are grown it is not uncommon to find new hybrids growing alongside the parent clump. In frost-prone cli­mates, grow these frost-tender plants as summer annuals, planting out young plants in early summer. Raise plants from seed sown in a propagating case under glass, in late winter or early spring.

Climate

Zone 9.