Treasure flower

Sun

Full sun; shade reduces flowering and keeps flowers closed.

Water

Low once established. Water young plants regularly, then let the soil dry between thorough waterings; containers need more frequent attention.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gritty or gravelly soil; tolerates poor soil and coastal conditions but dislikes wet clay and winter waterlogging.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to autumn, sometimes longer in frost-free climates. The species usually has yellow to orange daisies, often with dark markings near the petal bases; garden selections and hybrids offer additional colours.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow to spoon-shaped leaves, sometimes lobed, with green or grey-green upper surfaces and white-felted undersides.

Growth

Moderate to fast in warm weather.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Invasive in

Australia

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant after frost danger has passed, leaving room for the spreading stems.
• Water at soil level and let the surface dry before watering again.
• Feed sparingly; use a light application of balanced fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak.
• Use gravel mulch rather than moisture-holding mulch around the crowns.
• Move pots into a bright, frost-free shelter before winter in cold regions.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems at their base to keep plants tidy and reduce seed production. In spring, trim frost-damaged leaves and straggling stems back to healthy growth.

Early spring

Sow seed under cover in cold climates, providing warmth and strong light.

Spring

Trim overwintered plants and check that crowns have not rotted.

Late spring

Harden off young plants and plant outside after the last frost.

Summer

Remove faded flowers and water containers when their compost dries.

Late summer

Take non-flowering basal cuttings if you want to preserve a particular plant.

Autumn

Shelter pots before frost, or remove plants being grown as annuals.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants bright and barely moist; protect outdoor plants from persistent wet.

• Edge sunny paths and raised beds with a low band of bright flowers.
• Plant among gravel and rocks with compact succulents for a drought-tolerant display.
• Use in sunny containers with other plants that prefer dry conditions.
• Cover small, well-drained coastal banks where escape into nearby natural vegetation is not a concern.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Dry gravel garden, Desert / xeriscape, Coastal, Hot border and Small-space.

Plant it with: Lavender, Santolina, Blue fescue, Rosemary, Stonecrop and Ice plant.

Wildlife: Open flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other visiting insects. Single-flowered forms offer easier access than heavily doubled selections.

• Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and discard badly rotted plants.
• Aphids on tender growth: wash them off with water or use insecticidal soap according to the label.
• Slugs and snails damaging young plants: remove hiding places, hand-pick at dusk or use an approved iron-phosphate bait.
• Few flowers or flowers staying shut: move plants into full sun; closed blooms during cloudy weather are normal.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is generally recognised as poisonous, but it is not an edible plant, and eating substantial amounts may cause stomach upset.

Where it spreads. Gazania rigens and closely related garden gazanias can escape cultivation and spread aggressively in coastal southern Australia, particularly Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. It is also naturalised in parts of coastal California. Identification within garden gazanias can be difficult; check local weed guidance before planting near dunes, coastal scrub or reserves.

• Clumping gazania (Gazania linearis)

  Usually forms tighter basal clumps with long, narrow leaves rather than the spreading, leafy stems typical of Gazania rigens. Garden hybrids can blur this distinction.

• African daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis)

  Usually grows taller and bushier, with broader, often toothed leaves that lack the conspicuously white-felted undersides of gazania.

• Livingstone daisy (Cleretum bellidiforme)

  Has fleshy leaves covered with sparkling bladder-like cells and many narrower petals; gazania has felt-backed leaves and broader ray florets.

Gazania honours the Greek scholar Theodorus Gaza, while rigens means stiff or rigid.

Propagation. Sow seed in warmth in early spring, or take basal cuttings in late summer. Rooted portions of spreading clumps can be separated in spring. Seedlings from named selections or hybrids may differ from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Gazania rigens

Native range

Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique, Northern Provinces and Swaziland.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.