Gazania ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips (midday gold)

Gazania: planting and caring for (midday gold)

Origin and Distribution

The Gazania (bot. Gazania) are a genus comprising around 19 different species within the sunflower family (bot. Asteraceae). Because of their property of only opening the brightly colored flowers on sunny days from morning to early afternoon, they are sometimes incorrectly assigned to the midday flowers. The bushy growing summer flowers have their home in South Africa, where they are mainly found in low altitudes and in sandy locations. The specimens available from us under the name “Mittagsgold” are mostly hybrid breeds from the species Gazania rigens, Gazania nivea and Gazania krebsiana.

use

Because of their lack of winter hardiness, Gazania is mainly sold as annual summer flowers for planting in pots and on balconies. But they also cut a good figure in colorful summer flower beds in the garden, especially if they are planted in groups that match each other. The South African beauties harmonize particularly well with flowers and perennials blooming in equally strong, bright colors such as marigolds (student flowers), rudbeckia, lobelia, zinnias or marigolds. The numerous varieties - often hybrids - are used as ornamental plants in gardens and parks around the world.

Appearance and stature

Most Gazania species are perennial, herbaceous plants. They remain quite low in height and, depending on the species and variety, only between 15 to 30 centimeters high and just as wide. However, the small bushes spread very quickly and form real cushions, the shoots of which overhang slightly. The narrow, lanceolate leaves sit on the woody stem axes, which in turn often form a rosette. The foliage is fresh green on the top and slightly silvery on the underside. Since the midday gold is not hardy, but can easily be propagated from seeds, the plants in this country are usually only cultivated as an annual.

Blossoms and flowering period

The margarite-like flower heads up to ten centimeters in diameter sit in large numbers on the 15 to 30 centimeter high flower stalks. There are many varieties in different colors from white to pink to red and darker red-brown tones. Hybrid varieties with striped petals are particularly attractive. The black spots on the tubular flowers are characteristic of many species and varieties. Gazania are, provided they are in a suitable location, tireless permanent bloomers and show their splendor throughout the summer from June to well into September.

Toxicity

Gazania, in bloom, is not poisonous.

Which location is suitable?

Since Gazania only open its magnificent flowers on sunny days, they need a full sun and warm location. If the selected place is too shady or if the summer is cloudy and rainy, the flowers will be rather sparse. Always combine the midday gold with other, blooming summer flowers - otherwise the flowerbed could remain bare with a little bad luck. But if the sun means well and shines from the sky, Gazania are easy-to-care for permanent bloomers. The plants are not only ideal for planting flower beds and balcony boxes, (€ 106.25 at Amazon *) but also feel very comfortable in the rock garden.

Soil / substrate

Since Gazania grows on rather barren, sandy soils in its natural habitat, you should also get poor and well-drained soil in the garden. A loose, loamy-sandy garden soil with high water permeability is particularly suitable - the flowers tolerate drought very well, but no moisture. If, on the other hand, the location is too rich in nutrients (which is the case with humus soils, for example), more leaves are formed. Flowers, however, can only be seen a few.

If the midday gold is in the bucket, mix a good standard humus-based soil about halfway with coarse sand. Pot drainage is also important so that waterlogging does not arise in the first place. Planters made of clay not only look attractive, but also prevent the roots from overheating thanks to their breathable material.

Planting Gazania properly

You can plant the midday gold in locations with sandy, poor soil: stone or prairie gardens as well as dry beds are ideal for the beauties. If, on the other hand, the flowers are to be in borders with dark, humus soil, you should dig this up thoroughly for healthy growth, loosen it and mix in a high proportion of gravel or sand. Soils with a high water storage capacity also need a five to ten centimeter thick drainage layer so that the planting is successful. From the end of May - there must be no late frost - plant the Gazania in groups of four to five plants in the bed. Maintain a planting distance of about 15 to 20 centimeters.

Container planting

On a sunny balcony or terrace, the midday gold also feels at home in window boxes, bowls or other suitable planters. Create a drainage layer made of gravel or expanded clay (€ 17.50 at Amazon *) and ensure that excess water can drain out of a drainage hole at the bottom of the vessel. Put the plants in potting soil that has been emaciated with plenty of sand (alternatively you can use cactus soil) and socialize them with flowers that have similar needs in terms of location, substrate and care. For example, convertible florets, magic bells or hussar buttons are suitable.

Watering and fertilizing

When it comes to maintenance, Gazania is not very laborious: Fertilization should also be avoided with potted specimens, as too many nutrients only stimulate the growth of the leaves - but undermine the willingness to flower. Basically, the following rule applies: the barren the ground, the more luxuriant the flowers. Watering is only necessary if the soil / substrate threatens to dry out. Water rather little even on hot days - but maybe more often. A small amount of water given in the morning and in the evening is easier for the plant, which is used to dry locations, to cope with than a larger amount of water at once.

Cut Gazania correctly

Cutting measures are not necessary. Only that which has faded should be cleaned out regularly so that the plant continuously develops new buds and flowers all the longer. With suitable weather and plenty of sunshine, you can enjoy the pretty flowers until the first frost.

Increase Gazania

From January to the beginning of April, you can prefer the midday gold from seeds you have collected yourself or from seeds purchased from specialist shops. But be careful: Since the species cultivated in this country are often hybrid - i.e. they are hybrids - their seeds are often unable to germinate. Furthermore, the beautiful color of the flowers is no longer apparent in flowers propagated from seeds. For these reasons, you should give preference to high-quality seed mixtures from specialist shops or grow offspring vegetatively from cuttings.

How to propagate from seeds:

Use potting soil with a high proportion of sand
Do not cover seeds with soil, as light germs
just press it down a little and moisten it lightly with water from a spray bottle
warm and bright location
optimal germination temperature: between 18 and 22 ° C
no direct sun, but lots of light
bright east window is optimal
Germination time: approx. 15 days
Prick out as soon as the young plants have four to six leaves
From May, place outdoors in a pot during the day and get used to the light
Plant outdoors from the end of May

You take cuttings either from young shoots in early summer (which you then have to overwinter, as these plants do not bloom until the following year) or in early autumn. The cuttings are easier to overwinter than adult plants.

Overwinter

In their homeland, the perennial Gazania often develop into small bushes that are slightly woody at their base. They have a life expectancy of a few years. Here, the pretty flowers are not hardy and difficult to overwinter. The sun-hungry plants suffer from the lack of light in the Central European winter and therefore often develop significantly fewer flowers in the following year. If you still want to give it a try, you should definitely dig up, pot and hibernate as follows:

bright, but not directly sunny location (east window or similar)
Temperature between five and ten degrees Celsius
pour little, do not fertilize
Gradually harden from April and place outdoors during the day
Bring it into the house in frost and overnight
Plant out from the end of May

Incidentally, cuttings cut in autumn are easier to overwinter than adult plants.

Diseases and pests

The easy-care gazanie is rather insensitive to diseases and pests. A damp location or excessive watering behavior is particularly problematic: if it is too wet, gray mold or even root rot develops very quickly. In this case, the affected plant can often no longer be saved and must be disposed of. When specimens are planted out, it is essential to have a snail protection in or around the bed, as the hungry reptiles also like to eat the tender flowers. In unfavorable locations, weakened plants are often attacked by aphids or spider mites.

Tips

If you can stand a bare dry stone wall in the garden, you can plant it with gazania and thus set colorful accents.

Species and varieties

We do not offer the botanically pure species of Gazania as garden or potted plants. Instead, there is a large selection of different hybrid strains available in a wide variety of colors, from single-colored to multi-colored flowers. With the 'Daybreak' series, for example, you acquire white, pink, golden yellow and orange-flowered varieties with a spreading growth. If, on the other hand, you attach great importance to particularly large flowers, then the different varieties of the 'Big Kiss' series with their flower heads up to twelve centimeters on average are just right. Probably the longest flowering time and duration of all varieties is the 'Talent' variety, whose flowers can appear in white, yellow, orange, pink or brown. In contrast, the 'Mini Star' variety appears rather compact.

Yellow flowers: 'Chansonette Yellow', 'Daybreak Orange Cream', 'Kiss Yellow Flame'
Orange flowers: 'Mini Star Tangerine', 'Daybreak Bright Orange', 'Kontiki Orange'
Pink flowers: 'Chansonette Plus Pink', 'Daybreak Pink'
White flowers: 'Mini Star White', 'Kiss Frosty White'