The petals come in beautiful shades of white, purple, pink, blue, or orange.
The center disc is usually darker, making the whole flower pop.
Even its silver-green foliage looks beautiful!
These colorful flowers are an excellent choice for growing along garden edges or in containers.
Moreover, they are easy to grow and care for.
So, if youre just starting out with gardening, African daisies wont be a pain in the grass!
Without further ado, lets look at how to cultivate and care for these delicate beauties.
It produces white, pink, yellow, or purple flowers.
These are wildflowers, often found in rocky grasslands.
However, they adapt well to garden prefs, too!
Moreover, these flowers often boast distinct shapes or patterns, further elevating their visual allure.
The unique petal arrangement gives each flower a sculptural quality, making them standout additions to gardens or containers.
Moreover, they are heat tolerant and known for blooming for a long time.
These aresun-loving plants, so find them a spot where they can bask in full sunlight.
However, African daisies cant tolerate chilly winds and frost.
So, avoid planting them in the garden bed if you live in a colder climate.
Instead, grow them in small containers that can be moved indoors at night or during winter.
Osteospermums need to feel warm and cozy to thrive.
Pro Tip:Stagger the planting every 23 weeks.
This way, youll be able to enjoy the blooms longer.
Image credits:Greta Hoffman
How to Plant Osteospermum
Prepare the soil with a well-drainingpotting mix.
Mix incompostor manure for added nutrients.
If youre planting directly in the garden bed,loosen the soil with a troweland add compost.
Note:Space the seedlings 1218 inches apart to give the plants enough room to grow.
Osteospermum Care
Osteospermums aretender perennialsthat can survive for several years in temperate climates.
With a little bit of TLC, you’re able to enjoy healthy blooms from spring to fall.
Light
Just like other daisy species, the osteospermum flower needsfull sun.
The more sunlight it gets, the healthier the flowers will be.
Soil
Osteospermums thrive inneutral to slightly acidic soil.
Till the soil before planting to ensure it is loose and airy.
Water
Established osteospermums are drought-tolerant andneed little moisture.
Watering every 45 days is enough to help them grow.
However, young seedlings require more moisturewater young plants thrice a week.
Image credits:Louis Hansel
Note:African daisies become dormant in peak summer heat.
This doesnt mean they need more water.
Just keep the soil moist, and they will start blooming again when the temperature becomes slightly cooler.
Temperature and Humidity
Osteospermums like mild weather but can tolerate nighttime temperatures of 40F (4.5C).
However,they cant survive frost, so you must overwinter them.
A layer of mulch around the base will help insulate the roots.
Humidity is not an issue for osteospermums as long as they have good air circulation.
Fertilizer
Fertilize them every 46 weeks in spring and summer to ensure continuous blooming.
Whichever you choose depends on the situation.
If your plant becomes leggy (showing excessive foliage with fewer flowers), a light trim can help.
This process will encourage new blooms.
Pinching is another way to encourage blooming.
Cut back the tips of your plant in its growing phase to create a bushy growth.
check that to trim just above a set of healthy leaves.
Pinch only before flowering starts.
Lastly, deadhead regularly to ensure an extended bloom time.
Pinch wilted flowers to encourage new buds.
Step 2:Dip the cutting in arooting hormoneto boost the process.
Step 3:Fill a small pot with a well-draining potting mix containing peat, perlite, and vermiculite.
Insert the cuttings around two inches deep.
If youre propagating multiple cuttings, space them out to avoid overcrowding.
Step 4:Gently pat the soil around them so they can stand firm.
Step 5:Cover the pot with a plastic bag or dome to create a greenhouse environment.
Step 6:Spray the soil regularly to keep it moist.
In 45 weeks, your stems will develop roots and be ready for garden transplantation.
However, before planting them in the garden, you should gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions.
Thats because osteospermum seeds have ahard shellthat makes germination a bit challenging.
A process called scarification can help speed up their germination.
To scarify seeds, take a nail file andmake small nicks or scratches on the seed coat.
This helps with water penetration and kickstarts the germination process.
Next, fill aseed-starting traywith potting soil and sprinkle the seeds on the surface.
Osteospermum seedsrequire light to germinate, so ensure not to bury them too deep.
A gentle press into the soil should be sufficient.
Seedlings will emerge in 1021 days.
Once leaves emerge, remove the plastic covering and expose the tiny plants to sunlight.
Here are some design tips to create a stunning floral display.
So, get your gardening gloves out and plant African daisies today!
FAQs
How Do I Keep African Daisies Blooming Longer?
Regular deadheading and watering will ensure your plants remain healthy.
If you see fewer blooms, increase the frequency of fertilization to every 23 weeks.
Remember, African daisies need full sun exposure to bloom.
So, choose a spot that receives adequate light.
Does Osteospermum Spread?
Yes, this is a subshrub that has a spreading and trailing habit.
This makes it a good choice for growing along garden edges.
How Long Does it Take for Osteospermum to Bloom?
Depending on the variety and growing conditions, osteospermums will go from seed to flower in 12 weeks.
Plant them in early spring to enjoy the blooms from summer until fall.
