Flower cm : Gazania rigens

Gazania rigens, the Treasure Flower, dazzles with large, daisy-like blooms in fiery oranges, golds, reds and creams, often marked with a striking dark eye at the centre. The flowers open wide in full sun and fold shut at night or under cloud, a charming daily ritual. Low and spreading, it is a brilliant choice for sunny borders, rockeries, gravel gardens and containers, thriving in exactly the hot, dry conditions that challenge other ornamentals.

Planting

Direct-sow outdoors 2-4 weeks after the last frost once the soil has warmed, or start indoors about 8 weeks earlier for sooner blooms. Sow seeds around 6 mm deep and keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which usually takes 14 to 21 days at a soil temperature of 15-18 degrees Celsius. In Egypt, autumn sowing (late September to November) suits the mild Delta winter and spring, with a second window in February-March before peak summer heat. Space plants about 30 cm apart in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light and well-drained sandy or loamy soil.

Fertilizing

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil and apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Avoid over-feeding, as too much produces lush leaves but fewer flowers. Container plants benefit from a fortnightly feed with a potash-rich fertiliser.

Care

Let the soil dry between waterings; Gazania is drought-tolerant once established and prone to root rot if overwatered. When seedlings reach about 5 cm tall, thin each group to a single strong plant, then harden off roughly two weeks before transplanting after frost. It is usually pest-free outdoors, though watch for aphids and mealybugs, and guard against root rot and grey mould with good drainage and air circulation. Blooms appear about 12 weeks after sowing, lasting from spring through summer.