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African daisy is the name commonly used to describe a group of different bedding plants. All come from South Africa, sport a mass of daisy-like flowers (unsurprisingly!), and require similar conditions to grow successfully. Daisy flowers, typical of the Asteraceae botanical family, create a clear mood and design direction. They appear out of place in lush, tropical settings, typified by plants with massive leaves and large garish flowers. They are more suited in my view to the sparser, restrained style of a Mediterranean, dry climate garden.
At least three genera answer to the name of African Daisy, with a number of species and varieties belonging to each genus. These are Arctotis, Osteospermum, and Dimorphotheca. All are hardy to light frosts, are fairly pest resistant, and must be grown in well-drained soil. While requiring regular water through the long hot summer, they do best, especially in heavy soils, with deep, occasional irrigation. Therefore, in their cultural needs, as well as in design terms, they associate better with Mediterranean type plants, than with tropical or sub tropical ones. All need full sun to flower.
Arctotis hybrids
The most common Arctotis found in gardens are hybrids that grow 30cm (1ft) high and wide. The foliage varies according to the variety from a dull green, to bluish-grey. The leaves are slightly rough and hairy. The symmetrical flowers are some 7cm (3in) wide, in shades of white, pink, yellow, orange, and red. Arctotis is most effective when massed as a ground cover, but is not to be relied on in cold-winter areas or boggy soil. The plants tend to become bare and leggy, so regular clipping is essential. My suggestion is to prune away the flowers even when about 25% remain on the plant.
Osteospermum fruticosum
This is a trailing plant to about 25cm (10 in) tall, covering about a meter in width. It is somewhat course and untidy in appearance, and so is unsuitable for small, intimate niches. It can be excellent though in spaces where a sprawling look is in order. The flowers are very similar in shape and size as those of Arctotis, coming in purple or white. To maintain bushiness, regular clipping is important, as is the occasional cutting-back to growing points towards the woody base of the plant. This should only be carried out during the growing season.
A taller version of this African Daisy is Osteospermum ecklonis. There are a number of varieties of this species available, most notably the relatively compact "Passion". This variety has pink, purple, or white flowers, with sky blue centers.
Dimorphotheca sinuata
This African Daisy, sometimes known as cape marigold, is a fine annual for warm summer, and mild winter climates, creating a lovely floral display in white, pink or purple at the end of the winter and the spring. It could however, become invasive in certain areas.
African daisy plants associate best in the flowerbed with plants belonging to the same botanical family; the similar flower shapes creating unity in the garden composition. Excellent companions for them amongst others are Felicia, Bidens, Chrysanthemums, Gazania, and Brachycome.
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