Gazania

Mon, 10/25/2010 - 6:51pm — Kathy Ormiston

Photo Credit:

Kathy Ormiston, PADG

Botanical Name:

Gazania

Pronunciation:

(gay-ZAY-nee-uh)

Common Name:

Gazania

Plant Type:

Ground cover

Mature Size:

6 in. tall and 12 in. wide

Water Requirements:

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

Sun/Shade Requirements:

Full sun

Flower Color :

Yellow, orange, white, and pink

There are some out there who look down on Gazanias as gas station plants, but hey, we love colorful, easy to grow, low water plants. We've repeated Gazanias along the edges of the garden to help tie together different beds. The cultivar we grow has silver foliage that works well with other Mediterranean plants.

Gazanias do better with occasional water. With regular water, they seem to become leggy.

We deadhead tired blooms on our Gazanias, but you don't have to. When a clump of plants becomes too crowded or too large, take cuttings during the cool season and plant them around the garden.