Scientific Name
Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn.
Common Name(s)
Treasure Flower, One-flowered Treasure Flower
Synonym(s)
Gazania leucolaena, Gazania pavonia, Gazania rigens var. rigens, Gazania splendens, Gazania uniflora, Gorteria heterophylla, Gorteria pavonia, Gorteria rigens, Gorteria spectabilis, Gorteria uniflora, Melanchrysum rigens, Meridiana splendens, Meridiana tesselata, Othonna rigens
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Cichorioideae
Tribe: Arctotideae
Subtribe: Gorteriinae
Genus: Gazania
Flower
Color: Brilliant yellow to orange
Bloom Time: Summer
Description
Gazania rigens is a tender perennial with decumbent stems that spread along the ground. Narrow but variably-shaped, dandelion-like leaves (narrow, spoon-shaped to lobed) are silvery green.
The flowering stems typically rise to 10 inches (25 cm) tall, topped by solitary, daisy-like ray flowers up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide, with contrasting center disks. Ray flowers are brilliant yellow to orange with black eyes at the bases and orange-brown disks. It can bloom from summer to fall, often to the first frost. The flowers close at night and may only partially open up on cloudy days.
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 resulting from staying wet for too long.
Pinch off fading flowers with your fingers to encourage a more extended 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.
Origin
Gazania rigens is native to southern Africa.
Links
- Back to genus Gazania
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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