In folklore daisies symbolize a new beginning and we love that. Daisy flowers are an all-time spring favourite for South Africans and are perfect for easy colour on the patio and around the garden in sunny spots. Many of the daisy flowers we grow are indigenous and water wise, here’s three of our most popular daisies that we are crazy about here at Eckards.

 

 

 

Marguerite Daisy Bushes

The botanical name for the good old fashioned Daisy Bush or Marguerite Daisy is Argyranthemum. There are so many varieties available and many of the new varieties are compact growing and repeat flowering right through summer. Perfectly versatile, Daisy Bushes are suited to a smaller garden or for potting up containers on the patio or balcony. Daisy bushes grow in full sun or very light shade and need a moist well-drained soil rich in compost.

Regularly dead head and remove the old flowers to get new flowers coming through and feed with a quick release plant flower food like Multifeed Flowergro. At any time of the year one can clip the whole plant back to encourage a rejuvenated flush of new leaves and a fresh show of colour.

 

Cape Daisies

Osteospermum are certainly one of the best sellers in SA and with good reason. The indigenous Cape Daisies, Osteospermum, herald the new season with masses of flowers in a range of colours from white, yellows through shades of pink to deep purple.

Perfect to fill a container with on the patio or for a patch of colour along a border, plant them close together for an instant show. Best news ever is that they are high on the list of plants for pollinators in South Africa. They do best in full sun in a well-drained soil with not too much feeding and keep them slightly on the dry side for the best results. Depending on the heat they can last a few months giving unrivalled colour.

 

Gazanias

Gazania species are grown for their brilliant colours in the late spring and are often in bloom throughout the summer well into autumn. The ultimate water warrior favourite as they are not only environmental Rockstars, they are waterwise too! Gazanias will also attract butterflies and bees to the garden and thrive on a little neglect. Gazania plant care does not involve much of anything, other than watering.

Gazanias are not hungry plants. Once a summer a feeding with BioGanic organic fertiliser is all they need. If one overfeeds one will find that they get more and more leaves and less flowers. In containers feed them with Multifeed Flowergro once a month to maintain flowering as in a container nutrients are washed out with regular watering.