Annuals and Biennials – Gazania (Treasure Flower)
Sunday, February 8th, 2009The Gazania is native of South Africa and is sometimes known as the Treasure Flower. They are half-hardy perennials but seldom survive a British winter and are best grown as annuals. They make useful summer bedding plants or they can be grown in patio containers or hanging baskets. Wherever you plant them, they will provide a superb splash of colour on sunny days.
Gazanias have a daisy-like flower and come in lots of brilliant colours, pinks, yellows, oranges and reds, and often a mixture of these and sometimes have a metallic sheen. The vivid flowers close up on an afternoon and remain shut until the following morning. If the weather is overcast, they do not open at all. The leaves are lobed, dark green, and grow in compact clumps. Each clump supports a number of flowers.
Growing Requirements
Soil
Water freely when in growth but keep plants just moist in winter outdoors. They like sandy well-drained soil in full sun and will tolerate coastal conditions. Deadhead to prolong the flowering period.
Size
Gazanias will grow to a height of around 10 in (25cm) and spread about 13in (33cm). The flowers can reach a diameter of 10cm and bloom from June until the end of September.
Propagation
Treasure flowers are very easy to grow and are normally grown from seed in a loam-based compost with added sharp sand, under glass, in late winter or early spring at 18 to 20°C although they can be grown from basal cuttings.
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Gazania
Trees are usually the largest and most prominent plants in a garden and form the backdrop that will influence the selection of other plants. Trees are perennial, usually having a single woody stem, and may be evergreen or deciduous. They are found in most parts of the world and so there is a huge variety of ornamental trees and plenty of choice for most types of garden.
Shrubs are woody-stemmed perennial plants, usually free-branching from the base rather than the single stem of a tree. As with trees, shrubs can be deciduous or evergreen, but they have a breathtaking variety of ornamental features such as shape, growing habits, striking flowers, eye-catching fruit and beautiful foliage.
Climbing plants use other plants, rocks or man-made structures for support. These valuable deciduous or evergreen plants can be used to cover-up wall or fences or to provide ornamental screening. Some will have a self-clinging or twining habit whilst others will require ties or some sort of additional support.
Perennials are plants that live for two years or longer and they will flower once they are mature. The term is most commonly used to describe garden plants that die back each year after flowering and seeding, issuing new growth in the spring. They can be grown in herbaceous borders, as specimen plants or in containers.
Rock plants are a mixture of shrubs, bulbs and hardy perennials originating from mountainous regions. They grow on or among rocks and are suitable for a rock gardens. Rock plants are adapted to growing in thin, well-drained soil and at altitude. They can survive temperature extremes but not excessive wet conditions. Alpines are included in this group.
An annual plant is, as the name suggests, one with a lifespan of within one year. A biennial will normally only sport foliage in its first year, going on to flower, set seed and die the following year. These plants are free-flowering and are easy to grow from seed. They can be used as bedding plants, grown in containers or hanging baskets, or used amongst shrubs and perennials.
Bulbous plants, more commonly know as bulbs, are grown chiefly for their beautiful flowers. They originate from all parts of the world and this group also covers plants with tubers, corms and rhizomes. Bulbs usually have a long dormant period that is often spent underground. Some bulbs can provide an early splash of colour in spring, some thrive in borders whilst others make great container plants.
