Gazania, also known as midday gold or midday gold flower, only open their colorful flowers on sunny days - hence their German name. The pretty bed and balcony flowers are not hardy here, but can be cultivated for several years. This requires careful care and frost-free wintering. Gazania should not be confused with the botanically related ice flowers (bot. Dorotheanthus).

The beautiful midday gold lives up to its name

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. flowers and flowering time
  5. toxicity
  6. Which location is suitable?
  7. soil / substrate
  8. Plant Gazania properly
  9. tub planting
  10. watering and fertilizing
  11. Cut Gazania correctly
  12. increase Gazania
  13. hibernate
  14. diseases and pests
  15. species and varieties

    16. origin and distribution

    The Gazania (bot. Gazania) is a genus comprising around 19 different species within the daisy family (bot. Asteraceae). Due to the fact that the colorful flowers open only on sunny days from morning to early afternoon, they are sometimes mistakenly assigned to the ice plants. The bushy summer flowers are native to South Africa, where they are mainly found at low altitudes and in sandy locations. The specimens available from us under the name "Mittagsgold" are mostly hybrid breeds from the species Gazania rigens, Gazania nivea and Gazania krebsiana.

    use

    Because of their lack of winter hardiness, Gazania are mainly sold as annual summer flowers for planting in containers and balconies. But they also cut a fine figure in colorful summer flower beds in the garden, especially if they are planted in colour-coordinated groups. The South African beauties harmonize particularly well with flowers and perennials that bloom in equally bright colors, such as marigolds (marigolds), rudbeckias, lobelia, zinnias or marigolds. The numerous varieties - which are often hybrids - are used worldwide as ornamental plants in gardens and parks.

    appearance and growth

    Most Gazania species are perennial, herbaceous plants. They remain quite low in their stature and, depending on the type and variety, are only between 15 and 30 centimeters high and just as wide. However, the small bushes spread very quickly and form veritable cushions with slightly overhanging shoots. The narrow, lanceolate leaves are attached to the woody stems, which in turn often form a rosette. The foliage is fresh green on top and slightly silvery on the underside. Since the midday gold is not hardy, but can be easily propagated from seeds, the plants in this country are usually only cultivated as annuals.

    flowers and flowering time

    The daisy-like flower heads, up to ten centimeters in diameter, are numerous on the 15 to 30 centimeters high flower stalks. There are many varieties in different colors from white to pink to red and darker shades of reddish brown. Hybrid breeds with striped petals look particularly attractive. The black spots on the tubular flowers are also characteristic of many species and varieties. Provided they are in a suitable location, Gazania are tireless bloomers and show their splendor throughout the summer from June until well into September.

    toxicity

    The magnificently flowering Gazania are not poisonous.

    Which location is suitable?

    Since Gazania only open their magnificent flowers on sunny days, they need a full sun and warm location. If the selected spot is too shady or if the summer is cloudy and rainy, the flowering will be rather sparse. Therefore, always combine the midday gold with other summer flowers that bloom happily - otherwise, with a bit of bad luck, the flower bed could remain bare. However, when the sun means well and shines from the sky, Gazania are easy-to-care-for permanent bloomers. The plants are not only ideal for planting flower borders and balcony boxes (€109.00) but also feel very comfortable in the rock garden.
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    soil / substrate

    Since Gazania grows in its natural habitat on rather barren, sandy subsoil, you should also get a lean and well-drained soil in the garden. A loose, loamy-sandy garden soil with high water permeability is particularly well suited - the flowers tolerate drought very well, but not moisture. On the other hand, if the location is too nutrient-rich (which is the case, for example, with humus-rich soil), more foliage is formed. Flowers, however, can be seen only a few.

    If the midday gold is in the bucket, mix a good standard soil on a humus basis with roughly half of coarse sand. Pot drainage is also important so that waterlogging does not occur in the first place. Clay planters not only look attractive, but also prevent the roots from overheating thanks to their breathable material.

    Plant Gazania properly

    You can plant the midday gold right away in locations with sandy, poor soil: rock gardens, prairie gardens and drying beds are ideal for the beauties. If, on the other hand, the flowers are to be planted in borders with dark, humus-rich soil, you should dig it up thoroughly for healthy growth, loosen it and also mix in a high proportion of gravel or sand. Soils with a high water storage capacity also need a drainage layer five to ten centimeters thick for planting to be successful. Plant the Gazania in groups of four to five plants in the bed from the end of May - there must be no late frost. Keep a planting distance of about 15 to 20 centimeters.

    tub planting

    On a sunny balcony or terrace, the midday gold also feels at home in window boxes, bowls or other suitable planters. Lay down a drainage layer of gravel or expanded clay (€19.73) and allow excess water to drain from a drainage hole at the bottom of the jar. Place the plants in potting soil that has been depleted with plenty of sand (alternatively, you can also use cactus soil) and associate them with flowers that have similar needs in terms of location, substrate and care. Lantana, magic bells or hussar buttons are well suited, for example.

    watering and fertilizing

    In terms of care, Gazania are not very complex: fertilization should also be avoided with potted specimens, since too many nutrients at most stimulate the growth of the leaves - but undermine the willingness to bloom. Basically, the rule applies: the barren the ground, the more lush the flowers. Watering is only necessary when the soil/substrate threatens to dry out. Even on hot days, water less - but maybe more often. A small amount of water in the morning and evening is easier for the plant, which is used to dry locations, to cope with than a larger amount of watering at once.

    Cut Gazania correctly

    Cutting measures are not necessary. You should only regularly clean out flowers that have faded so that the plant constantly develops new buds and blooms for longer. With the right weather and plenty of sunshine, you can enjoy the pretty flowers until the first frost.

    increase Gazania

    From January to the beginning of April you can prefer the midday gold from seeds you have collected yourself or from seeds bought in specialist shops. But beware: since the species cultivated in this country are often hybrids - i.e. they are crosses - their seeds are often not germinable. Furthermore, the beautiful flower coloring is no longer evident in flowers propagated from seeds. For these reasons, you should give preference to high-quality seed mixtures from specialist shops or grow vegetative offspring from cuttings.

    How to propagate from seeds:

    • Use potting soil with a high proportion of sand
    • Do not cover seeds with soil as light germinates
    • just press down a little and moisten slightly with water from a spray bottle
    • warm and bright location
    • optimum germination temperature: between 18 and 22 °C
    • no direct sun, but plenty of light
    • bright east window is optimal
    • Germination period: approx. 15 days
    • Prick out as soon as young plants have four to six leaves
    • from May put them outside in the pot during the day and get used to the light
    • plant outdoors from the end of May

    You take cuttings either from young shoots in early summer (which you then have to hibernate as these plants only flower the following year) or in early autumn. The cuttings are easier to overwinter than adult plants.
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    hibernate

    In their native habitat, perennial Gazania often develop into small bushes that are slightly woody at their base. They have a life expectancy of a few years. With us, the pretty flowers are not hardy and difficult to overwinter. The sun-loving plants suffer from the lack of light in the Central European winter and therefore often develop significantly fewer flowers in the following year. If you still want to try it, you should definitely dig up the planted Gazania, pot it and overwinter it as follows:

    • bright but not directly sunny location (east window or similar)
    • Temperature between five and ten degrees Celsius
    • water little, do not fertilize
    • gradually harden off from April and place outdoors during the day
    • bring into the house during frost and overnight
    • plant out from the end of May

    Incidentally, cuttings cut in the fall are easier to overwinter than adult plants.

    diseases and pests

    The easy-care Gazania is rather insensitive to diseases and pest infestation. Above all, a damp location or excessive watering behavior becomes problematic: if it is too wet, gray mold or even root rot develops very quickly. In this case, the affected plant can often no longer be saved and must be disposed of. When plants are planted, a snail protection in or around the bed is essential, as the hungry reptiles also like to eat the delicate flowers. In unfavorable locations, weakened plants are often attacked by aphids or spider mites.

    tips

    If you can stand a bare dry stone wall in the garden, you can also plant Gazania on it and thus set colorful accents.

    species and varieties

    We do not offer the botanically pure species of Gazania as garden or pot plants. Instead, a wide variety of different hybrid strains are available in a wide variety of colors, ranging from monochromatic to multicolored flowers. In the 'Daybreak' series, for example, you can purchase white, pink, golden yellow and orange flowering varieties with sprawling growth. If, on the other hand, you attach great importance to particularly large flowers, the different varieties of the 'Big Kiss' series with their flower heads of up to twelve centimeters on average are just right. Probably the longest flowering time and duration of all varieties has the variety 'Talent', whose flowers can appear in white, yellow, orange, pink or brown. The 'Mini Star' variety, on the other hand, appears more compact.

    • Yellow flowers: 'Chansonette Yellow', 'Daybreak Orange Cream', 'Kiss Yellow Flame'
    • Orange flowers: 'Mini Star Tangerine', 'Daybreak Bright Orange', 'Kontiki Orange'
    • Pink flowers: 'Chansonette Plus Pink', 'Daybreak Pink'
    • White flowers: 'Mini Star White', 'Kiss Frosty White'

Category:

Vegetable garden