How to Grow Gazania
iNaturalist
Gazania
Gazania rigens
flowerGazania is a vibrant, daisy-like flowering plant native to South Africa, known for its striking blooms in bold colors including orange, yellow, red, pink, and bicolored patterns. The flowers typically feature dark central disks and often have distinctive striped or spotted petals. It's a popular choice for sunny borders, containers, and drought-tolerant gardens due to its low maintenance requirements and extended flowering period.
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Example Gazania timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Gazania
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Gazania blooms
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Gazania dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9-11; grown as annual or tender perennial in cooler zones
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny cotyledons emerge and develop into small plants with narrow gray-green leaves. Growth is initially slow.
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light. Thin seedlings to proper spacing once large enough to handle.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant develops rosette of gray-green, lance-shaped leaves with fuzzy texture. Stem elongation occurs.
Maintain moderate watering. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent root rot. Begin hardening off transplants a week before planting outdoors.
Budding
2-3 weeksFlower buds form at stem tips, appearing as tight closed structures. Plant may branch if pinched early.
Continue regular watering but do not overwater. Pinch back plants early in season to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
Flowering
6-12 weeks or longer with deadheadingDaisy-like flowers open in brilliant colors with dark central disk. Blooms open in sunshine and close at night or in shade.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Provide full sun exposure. Feed monthly with balanced or slightly phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
Seed Development
3-4 weeksFlowers fade and form seed heads with distinctive feathery bristles. Seeds mature inside papery capsules.
Allow some flowers to remain on plant if saving seeds. Collect seed heads when they turn brown and dry. In frost-free zones, plant may persist into next season.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe. Maintain adequate humidity.
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Spray with strong water stream or use insecticidal soap. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
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Remove by hand at night, use slug bait, or create barriers of sand or diatomaceous earth. Improve drainage to discourage.
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil, or introduce parasitic wasps. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer.
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Ensure excellent drainage and do not overwater. Remove affected plants. Use well-draining soil mix.
Uses
Edible flowers
CulinaryGazania petals are edible with a slightly sweet taste and can be used as garnish in salads or desserts, adding vibrant color to dishes. [source]
Pollinator magnet
WildlifeThe bright daisy-like flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making gazania an excellent choice for supporting beneficial insects in the garden. [source]
Cut flowers and arrangements
CraftGazania's bold, striking blooms make excellent fresh-cut flowers for arrangements and are particularly suitable for sunny displays as they respond to light. [source]
Drought-tolerant landscaping
HouseholdGazania is ideal for water-wise gardens, xeriscaping projects, and low-maintenance borders in sunny locations, reducing irrigation needs. [source]
Traditional herbal use
MedicinalSome traditional medicine systems use gazania for its mild anti-inflammatory properties, though modern scientific evidence is limited. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Gazanias are ornamental flowers primarily enjoyed in the garden. Cut flowers for arrangements when fully open on sunny mornings; they will close at night. To save seeds, allow flowers to fade and dry on plant, then collect seed heads when completely dry and brittle. Deadhead regularly to extend blooming season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Gazania flowers exhibit heliotropism, opening and closing in response to sunlight—they remain closed on cloudy days and at night, protecting their pollen and nectar.
- 🌱 The plant is named after Theodore Gaza, a 15th-century Greco-Roman scholar and translator, as a tribute to his botanical contributions.
- 🌱 In South Africa, gazania flowers are pollinated primarily by oil-collecting bees that have specially adapted legs called 'oil brushes' to harvest oils from the flowers.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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