African Daisy Care Guide: How to Grow African Daisies

African daisy is the common name of Osteospermum, a genus of daisy-like flowers within the Asteraceae family. These South African native daisies are also called the South African daisy, Cape daisy, blue-eyed daisy, and daisybush. Most African daisies in the Osteospermum genus are perennials. African daisies used to be classified within the Dimorphotheca genus, but only the annual species of the flower (such as the Cape marigold) remain in that genus. African daisies can be beautiful cut flowers, and their shrub-like appearance makes them great plants for ground cover in gardens.

There are more than 70 species of African daisies of varying shapes and colors. African daisies can have yellow, red, blue, purple, white, or multicolored petals and blue or yellow centers. The petal shapes can be broad and smooth, and others spiky and slim. Popular varieties include:

1. 1. ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’: This multi-colored daisy is a variety of Osteospermum ecklonis species with a blue and yellow center. The petals are purple at the center and transition to yellow at the edges.
2. 2. ‘Astra Purple Spoon’: This variety has pink and blue petals fluted in the middle, giving them the appearance of a spoon with an ornate handle.
3. 3. ‘Lemon Symphony’: This hybrid cultivar has yellow petals surrounding a purple center. The middle of the flower features an orange dot, also known as an eye.
4. 4. ‘Soprano White’: This hybrid daisy features white petals and a blue center surrounded by yellow and purple rings.
5. 5. ‘Sideshow Copper Apricot’: This cultivar has apricot-colored petals and an orange and purple center.

Many African daisy varieties won’t grow from seed, but you can buy young plants at a garden center and transplant them to your garden. Planting instructions may vary depending on the cultivar, but here are some general planting tips:

1. 1. Plant new African daisies in the early spring. Plant your daisies in the early spring after the last frost.
2. 2. Plant your daisies in nutrient-rich soil. Daisies grow best in rich, fertile soil that is well-drained and slightly acidic with 5 or 5.5 pH. Work in compost or fertilizer when you’re planting the daisy to give it some nutrients.
3. 3. Give daisies room in your garden. Space African daisies at least 12 inches apart.
4. 4. Keep the soil moist. Water the plant consistently and keep the soil moist until the roots are established.

African daisies will bloom in temperate climates during the late spring and early summer and again in late summer and early fall. African daisies are perennials, though in places with heavy frost, they’re grown as annual flowers. Follow these tips to best care for your African daisies:

• Place African daisies in direct sunlight. African daisies grow best in full sun, and while they can grow in light shade, they will produce fewer flowers. During the summer, the daisies will stop blooming to survive the stress of the heat and will resume blooming in the fall.
• Let the soil dry between waterings. The African daisy is drought-tolerant and should get an inch of water each week. Soil that is too wet can lead to root rot.
  
• Give your African daisies nutrients. To help these daisies grow, give the flowers a water-soluble fertilizer once a month throughout their growing season, from spring to fall.
• Deadhead spent blooms to promote growth. Deadhead any spent blooms and dead leaves and pinch the plants, cutting off the top inch to encourage bushier growth. You should also prune the plant if it grows particularly bushy—any leaves or buds that don’t get enough sunlight will retain moisture, leading to fungal diseases or pests like aphids.

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