The German names of the Gazania say a lot about its characteristics: “Mittagsgold” and “Sonnentaler” – the flowers, which are golden yellow in the wild form and of a different color in hybrids, open at midday, but only on sunny days.
How do you properly care for a Gazania?
To successfully care for a Gazania, it needs a sunny location, well-drained and poor soil, moderate watering and regular fertilization. The plant is not hardy, but overwintering is possible. Avoid propagating from self-collected seeds.
Planting the Gazania
In order for its flowers to open, the Gazania definitely needs a sunny location that is ideally well protected from rain. Only plant the Midday Gold outdoors or on the balcony after the Ice Saints in May, because it is not hardy. The soil should be well-drained but still nutrient-rich. If necessary, loosen it up with some sand or grit.
Water and fertilize correctly
Gazania tolerates drought better than too much moisture or even waterlogging. Therefore, water your plants only moderately. However, you don't have to skimp too much on fertilizer when it comes to midday gold. You can mix some liquid fertilizer into the irrigation water about every one to two weeks. Some varieties prefer somewhat barren soil; they are particularly suitable for rock gardens or dry stone walls.
Propagate the Gazania
Gazanias are quite easy to grow from seeds. However, you should not collect these from your own plants. As a rule, garden plants are hybrids that produce no or only poorly germinable seeds. It's better to buy seeds (€4.00 on Amazon) from specialist retailers if you want to propagate Gazania in this way.
The Gazania in winter
Sunflower is not hardy and is often sold as an annual summer flower. It is actually perennial and if you have the space for it, you should try overwintering the Gazania. This plant requires a frost-free, bright winter quarters with a temperature between 5 and 10 °C. During the winter it is watered little and not fertilized.
The best care tips for the Gazania:
- sunny location
- permeable lean soil
- water moderately
- fertilize regularly
- not hardy
- Overwintering possible
- do not grow from collected seeds
Tip
Be sure to plant your Gazania in a sunny place protected from rain, otherwise it will not open its pretty flowers.
