African Daisy

Wed, 07/22/2009 - 8:21am — Kathy Ormiston

Photo Credit:

Vera Kark, PADG

Botanical Name:

Arctotis 'Purple Torch'

Pronunciation:

(ark-TOE-tiss)

Common Name:

African Daisy

Plant Type:

Perennial

Mature Size:

1 ft. to 1 1/2 ft. tall and wide

Water Requirements:

Low: water every 3 weeks until the root ball is wet

Sun/Shade Requirements:

Full sun

Flower Color :

Purple

Wildlife:

This plant is deer resistant

This African daisy begins blooming in the winter and continues until the weather gets hot. Other varieties of African daisy will bloom through the summer.

This plant is a low growing ground cover with gray felty leaves that are attractive even when there are no flowers. At our Palo Alto Demonstration Garden we have repeated plantings of 'Purple Torch' throughout the front of our beds to unify the garden. It combines well with Bulbine frutescens, which blooms at approximately the same time.

We do not consider this to be a low maintenance plant. To keep Arctotis looking its best, the flowers should be regularly deadheaded when past their prime. If you have a lot of Arctotis planted in your garden, it can be a chore.

Cuttings root easily in the cool months and that's a good thing because Arctotis looks best when replaced every few years.