Introduction

Gazania is a perennial grown as an annual that grows well in rock gardens or in other hot, dry areas (Figure 1). It forms a very low, ground-hugging ground cover, producing bright yellow, orange, or red, daisy-like flowers. The stripped petals set this group of hybrids apart from other gazanias. Flower sclose at night and on very cloudy days. Plants grow 6 to 12-inches tall with bluish foliage. Do not plant in the partial shade. Full day sun is required for healthy plants.

General Information

Scientific name: Gazania x Harlequin Hybrids

Pronunciation: gay-ZAY-nee-uh

Common name(s): harlequin hybrid gazania

Family: Compositae

Plant type: ground cover; perennial; herbaceous

USDA hardiness zones: 8B through 11 (Figure 2)

Planting month for zone 8: Apr; May

Planting month for zone 9: Mar; Apr; May; Sep; Oct

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Feb; Mar; Apr; May; Nov; Dec

Origin: not native to North America

Uses: ground cover; edging

Availablity: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: .5 to 1 feet

Spread: 1 to 2 feet

Plant habit: round

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: most emerge from the soil, usually without a stem

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: lobed

Leaf shape: linear

Leaf venation: none, or difficult to see

Leaf type and persistence: deciduous

Leaf blade length: 4 to 8 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: not applicable

Fall characteristic: not applicable

Flower

Flower color: yellow; red; orange

Flower characteristic: year-round flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: unknown

Fruit length: unknown

Fruit cover: unknown

Fruit color: unknown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: thin

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in full sun

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; acidic; alkaline; loam

Drought tolerance: high

Soil salt tolerances: unknown

Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pest

Use and Management

It is a good plant for erosion control in dry areas. It should be planted 12 to 18-inches apart to form a solid ground cover several months after planting. Good soil gives best growth but the plant tolerates poor, sandy soil. Provide excellent soil drainage when growing this plant in the eastern part of the US. Gazania requires less water than most annuals or perennials. Full sun is preferred, and the flowers do not open fully on wet or cloudy days. Extended wet weather or poorly drained soil can promote disease which can kill portions of the plant. Removing the old blossoms may increase the number of blooms produced.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern, but gazania can susceptible to root rot on wet or poorly drained soils.