Family: Asteraceae
Common name: African daisy, Cape marguerite, Cape daisy, South African daisy, Sundays river daisy, Cape marigold, White daisy bush, Van Staden’s river daisy, Blue-and-white daisy bush, Star of the veldt
African daisy is a beautiful flowering plant that blooms in a range of colors like white, purple, yellow, orange, and pink. They are native to South Africa but are now grown in countries all over the world as ornamentals.
Plant Characteristics
African daisy plants grow to a height of 30 to 60 cm with a fibrous, shallow root system that helps the plant absorb nutrients from the soil effectively.
These plants usually grow upright with multiple branched stems, each stem producing flower heads. Stem is woody at the base, green and luscious towards the tips.
Leaves are thick, glossy, and leathery, about 5-10 cm long, growing alternately along the stem. African daisy leaves are thin, lance-shaped with a smooth or slightly serrated margin.
Flowers are the most attractive feature of this plant, blooming well in summer and fall. Daisy-like blooms come in a range of colors like white, purple, pink, yellow, or blue with contrasting central discs that are yellow, black, or blue.
Flower heads range in diameter from 5-10 cm, opening in the daytime when it’s sunny, and closing at night or during cloudy days.
African daisy plants remain green almost throughout the year in warmer climates, but will die back in frosty weather.
These plants produce small fruits that are about 5 mm long, containing a single seed that is usually dispersed by wind, water, or small animals.
Gardening Tips
African daisies prefer good sunlight and cannot be grown as indoor plants. Brighter the sunlight, more the number of flowers, and the more they open up. They should be grown in moist, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.
African daisy plants can form bushy, rounded mounds making them an excellent choice as border plants. They can be grown in shallow pots or even in shallow soil along the walls.
With good sunlight, watering, and fertilization, they can fill your garden with a colorful display for flowers for many months in spring and autumn.
Deadheading of spent flowers can help the plant bloom again. You can also prune the plant in late spring after the first set of flowers to encourage a second set of blooms.
Uses of African daisy plants
These plants are mostly grown as ornamental plants in gardens, parks, and landscaped areas. They can be grown in butterfly gardens or agricultural land to attract butterflies and pollinators.
African daisy plants have escaped cultivation, growing in meadows and open areas, and are hence considered as invasive weeds in some countries.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, or root division. Seeds usually take 10-20 days to germinate in moist, well-drained soil.
When parent plants form large clumps, they can be separated gently without spoiling the roots, and replanted as independent plants.
Photographed at: KEW gardens, London and Park Güell, Barcelona
