Flower of the Month - Gazania

This year we have many variations of Gazania, as known as Treasure Flower or African Daisies, for sale. These small blooms are fascinating as much as they are pretty. These blooms will open each day when sunlight strikes, and close themselves at sunset or cloud coverage. This display is super fun to watch.

Ours have been in bloom since the middle of June, making them a long lasting summer flower, perfect for maintaining color in your garden all season. As long as you can provide the plant 5 or more hours of sunlight a day, you will have success with this flower. 

They attract the garden favorites - hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

Because these flowers are native to the dry, desert climates of saharn Africa, they don't need much to survive. They have tolerated our shocking heatwaves in zone 7b and will even tolerate a little drought. And incredibly enough, they will also survive light frosts or weather as low as 25 degrees F.

Tolerant of climate stress, fantastic color, long lasting blooms, and a show everyday? I want to be a gazania when I grow up...

One note: they can spread like a weed if not controlled. They wont be invasive in zone 7 and similar due to harsh winters, making it an annual. Cut flowers before going to seed, keep the plant in pots/containers, and you'll be fine.