Gazania krebsiana (Terracotta Gazania)

Scientific Name

Gazania krebsiana Less.

Common Names

Terracotta Gazania

Synonyms

Gazania krebsiana var. krebsiana, Gazania krebsiana subsp. krebsiana, Gazania lineariloba, Gazania mucronata, Gazania oxyloba, Gazania varians, Meridiana krebsiana, Meridiana lineariloba, Meridiana mucronata, Meridiana oxyloba, Meridiana varians

Scientific Classification

Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Cichorioideae
Tribe: Arctotideae
Subtribe: Gorteriinae
Genus: Gazania

Flower

Color: Dark red or orange
Bloom Time: Summer

Description

Gazania krebsiana is a perennial, evergreen groundcover up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. The leaves may vary in shape especially when young. Mature leaves are usually compound and divided into small, narrow, regular lobes of about 4 to 6 on each side. They are dark shiny green on the upper side and woolly white underneath. The flowerheads are up 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter. The upper side of the ray florets is mainly a magnificent dark red or orange, with dark brown markings on the lower quarter. The dark brown markings may contain black or white spots, adding more eloquence to the flowers.

Photo via edgewoodgardens.net

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 5a to 10b: from −20 °F (−28.9 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Plant Gazanias in early spring, in full sun and well-draining soil, spacing multiple plants 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart to form a ground cover mat. These flowers can tolerate almost any type of soil — alkaline, acidic, loam, clay and sand — as long as they have good drainage, though they prefer good, fertile loam.

Water the Gazania, keeping it moist after planting until you see new growth. Once growing on its own, this plant is quite drought tolerant, and only requires supplemental water during droughts of three weeks or more. Water in the morning, as Gazanias can succumb to stem and root rots, powdery mildew and leaf spot that can result from staying wet for too long.

Pinch off fading flowers with your fingers to encourage a longer bloom period. Prune annually in late winter or early spring, beginning in the second season, cutting the foliage back to 2 or 3 inches above the ground with pruning shears. This will refresh the plant and encourage new growth… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Gazania.