Page 29 - Intra Muros November 2023 Issue

GARDENING

BEAUTIFUL, BOUNTIFUL DAISIES

By Elize Malan

aisies symbolise purity, love, new The seeds are sown in autumn but are so with a brown or yellow centre. Plants will
beginnings and hope. It’s not fine that mixing them with flour is advised. stop flowering when night temperatures are
Dsurprising: their simplicity and beauty There’s no need to cover them, but keep above 20°C.
uplift our spirits and enliven any garden. them moist and they will germinate within
There are several species of daisies. They 14 days. Once established in a rockery, Propagation is done by taking cuttings of
are flowering plants belonging to the aster new seedlings will re-appear the following non-flowering stems. Keep the plants moist
family. autumn. and they will root successfully. Keep mature
daisy bushes well-watered as drought will
Daisies have a composite flower head. The Perennial indigenous daisies popular cause dieback.
head can have 15 to 30 white ray flowers in gardens
surrounding a centre that usually consists of Shasta daisy
bright yellow disk flowers. Other colours are Barberton daisy This large white daisy is named after Mount
also common. True daisies are nyctinastic: Hybrids of this daisy are grown for cut-flower Shasta, a snow-capped volcano in California.
The petals of the flower close at sundown production in greenhouses worldwide. In
and open at sunrise. your garden it can be grown from seed Grown from seeds, the plants will only
and will flower after a year. Clump division flower during the second year. Hybrids are
South Africa is well-known for its indigenous during spring will result in flowers that same propagated by division in autumn or early
flowers, many of which are daisies. They summer. spring.
are a common feature in winter rainfall
regions such as Clanwilliam or the West Like all daisies, this one will require full sun. Smaller varieties make good edging plants
Coast National Park, and form a beautiful Moderate watering and regular fertilising and are impressive groundcovers. They will
and colourful daisy carpet on sunny days in will encourage plants to produce an flower up to three times during one summer
springtime. abundance of flowers year after year. season. Plants require moist conditions and
will enjoy afternoon shade in warm regions.
Annual indigenous species that are Cape daisy (Osteospermum)
easy to grow This is a popular trailing perennial, but it The list of garden daisies is endless. You will
won’t survive frost conditions. It is suitable always find a daisy in the colour you want to
Namaqualand daisy for groundcovers, rock gardens or hanging plant in that special spot.
The plants are sown directly into sunny baskets.
garden beds in autumn. They do not need References:
https://www.gardeninginsouthafrica.co.za
to be watered in winter rainfall regions. In Only a few varieties are grown from seed. https://pza.sanbi.org/gerbera-jamesonii
our Gauteng gardens, the seedlings will https://www.growveg.co.za/plants/south-africa/
how-to-grow-osteospermum/
require some watering throughout winter. The hybrids available in nurseries have https://www.gardenandhome.co.za/gardening/
The autumn-shaded flowers produce an different-shaped petals, a variety of single how-tos/growing-daisies-2/
abundance of seeds. and double colours and are propagated
from cuttings. Prune back leggy plants after Tel: 012 804 1807
Remember to collect the brown flat seeds the flowering season and new side shoots Fax: 012 804 0278
before they blow away. Store the seeds will develop. Web: www.garden-group.co.za
in a paper bag to prevent mould until the Email: admin@garden-group.co.za
following year and sow again. Perennial daisies not indigenous but
old-time favourites
Livingstone daisy (Bokbaai vygie)
A succulent annual, it is low-growing with Marguerite daisy
spectacular, brightly coloured flowers in It’s originally from the Canary Islands and
sunny gardens. has colours such as white, pink and yellow

INTRAMUROS NOVEMBER 2023 | 27