The plants, commonly called African daisies (but not to be confused with Osteospermum or Gazania, called by the same common name) are evergreen and perennial in my USDA zone 10b garden where frost is not normally an issue. The foliage did get a bit ratty last year when summer arrived early. Some of my plants waited out the intense heat of last summer from the sidelines in pots but I popped them in the new front garden borders in November, where they've been growing exuberantly ever since. The silvery, slightly fuzzy foliage, is thick and healthy.
They grow well in full to part sun and have low water needs, a big plus in drought-stricken Southern California. In addition to being drought tolerant, they're reported to be deer resistant. My mature plants are about 18 inches (46 cm) tall and almost 2 feet (61 cm) wide.
The flowers are a bright pink with a prominent orange eye but, with their grayish foliage, they blend in well in my Mediterranean plant scheme.
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| When the sun goes down, the flowers close up |
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| Several of the blooms recently have produced petals in the middle of the central disk |
With regular deadheading, the flowers keep on coming. Most sources characterize them as spring to summer bloomers but I've noticed that the bloom here is heaviest during our cool season (winter through spring). Hopefully, irrigation will help the plants continue blooming into summer this year.
Arctotis 'Pink Sugar' is my favorite plant this week. You can find other gardeners' favorite plant choices on the last Friday of the month when Loree of danger garden presents her favorites wrap up.
All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
A lovely favorite, Kris! My osteospermum "Mimosa Sunset" is blooming its heart out, but I notice there's a good deal of difference in the foliage... perhaps a reason to hunt up some Arctotis too ;-)
ReplyDeleteI haven't grown that particular Osteospermum but I grow several others and, you're right, the foliage is very different in color, as well as leaf size and shape. I love all the "African daisies" and definitely think you should try the other genera too!
DeleteLove that rosy petal color and blended tones. Pretty as a picture and very well groomed as you say, not ratty ....
ReplyDeleteLooks like more heat to come, earlier than last year. Gathered from the NWS LOX (National Weather Service Los Angeles Oxnard) weather page this morning:
1. Elusive El Niño arrives. Forecasters predict it will stay weak, have little influence on weather and climate --NOAA
2. Record Warm February --NWS LOX
3. Today's predicted high temperature here at home: 88. Record breakers at the beaches. Santa Ana winds.
Ugh, I hate to even think of another long drawn-out summer like the one last year. The LA Times had an article on the late arrival of El Nino too. I don't think it got above 80F here today but the humidity is near zero.
DeleteIt's a good one!
ReplyDeleteIt goes surprisingly well with other plants - I think the grayish foliage helps dial down flowers that might otherwise be considered too much.
DeleteRay of sun with fluorescent pink halo :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a perfect description!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous splash of color on a winter's day. I can see why they are a favorite. It almost looks as though they have hollow stems like gerbera daisies.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very good eye, Jenny - the Arctotis do have a small hollow at the center of the stem rather like a Gerbera (and very different from the thin, stiff stem of the Osteospermum or the sap-filled stem of the Gazania).
DeleteThat is a beautiful flower, the colors are just my style! It's undoubtedly an annual here, but I don't know if I've ever seen it in the nurseries.
ReplyDeleteIt would be perfect in your garden, Alison, but I think you're right that it would have to be treated as an annual, although I suppose you could drag it into your greenhouse - in my garden it "summered over" in a pot last year.
ReplyDeleteThat's a show-stopper. You know Kris, I often see a plant with a couple of blooms featured on garden blogger posts. I'm beginning to notice that in your gardens, plants don't just "blossom" they are more often covered with blooms. Lavishly, abundantly in flower. You are definitely figuring out just the right ways to tease the best out of your situation.
ReplyDeleteI try, Deb, I try. Not all my plants cooperate but I've been focusing on the ones that like it here and trying to forget the ones that don't.
DeleteEven the foliage compliments the hot color combo, nice choice! (and interesting to see it in both your and Hoov's posts!)
ReplyDeleteThe Arctotis does work well with the 'Maori Queen' Phormium - I'm not sure I could have found a better mix.
DeleteWhat a fitting name. Very sweet, and great foliage too!
ReplyDeleteThe foliage definitely looks its best in cooler weather.
DeleteThese are beautiful! I think I like the foliage almost as much as the flowers.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased with the foliage too. As I commented above to Amy, it looks its best under cool weather conditions. In the heat, it tends to become more tattered.
DeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteMariana
Thanks Mariana.
DeletePink Sugar, aptly named Kris. The candy pink looks lovely in the sun......ah, sun! What a thought :)
ReplyDeleteYou might be less enthusiastic about that sun if you saw how our temperatures have spiked (and the humidity has plummeted). It's too early for summer (!!!) but that's what it's like here. It's hard for the plants to adjust.
DeleteI particularly like this one, Kris - the colour combinations are so much fun and are perfect against the grey foliage!
ReplyDeleteThe silvery gray of the foliage helps tone down the vivid color of the flowers, Matt, so it's a fortuitous combination.
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