A little bit about the African daisy

No prizes for guessing where this exotic beauty is from. But in Sydney, African daisies have proven to be just as tough and easy to grow as they are in their homeland. Come winter, they reveal a showy, generous mass of flowers that close in low light. Petals come in a range of shades, from white, creamy yellow and orange, to bold pink, purple and red. If you can’t decide on one colour, the ‘Passion Mix’ variety features pink, mauve and white in one plant. African daisy stems and leaves are coated in matted, downy hairs, giving them silvery-green colour. Low and fast-growing, the African daisy makes great ground cover and looks equally great in a pot.

Osteospermum Passion Mix, a beautiful and very popular purple and white African Daisy variety,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Botanical name: Osteospermum 

Height: 30 to 60 centimetres Width: One metre or more

Ideal position: African daisies rely on the sun to open completely, so they love full sun, as well as sandy, well-draining soil. They will tolerate moderate frost.

Suitable spots: Plant your African daisies in the garden or in a container.

When do they bloom? A mass of flowers appear from winter through to spring.

Pests and diseases to watch out for: Keep caterpillars and snails away with Amgrow Caterpillar & Insect Spray and Multiguard Snail & Slug Killer.

 

Caring tips 

How to prepare for planting

Dig through cow manure before planting. African daisies like to spread, so make sure you give them plenty of space.

Feed

Giving your plant a monthly liquid feed will help it produce more flowers.

Prune

You can prolong flowering by deadheading your plant once the first flush of flowers are finished.

Watering

While African daisies are drought tolerant, they will give you more flowers if watered well throughout the growing season.