Osteospermumspp.
I do n’t keep osteospermum ineverycontainer I establish for client , but they ’re present in most of what I put together .
It ’s impossible for me to pass on these flowers , even with other more exotic choices to pluck from . They ’ve stick a perfect blend of color , variety , and champagne cheeriness without going over the top like other flowers … I ’m take care at you , fuchsia !
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Although I ’ve yet to add osteospermum to my own garden beds at home , I ’ve been turn them for client over the years .
I do n’t think I ’ve had any other prime request twelvemonth after class as much as the Cape daisy . They ’re available in shades of majestic , orange , yellow , lily-white , and pink , so there ’s an option usable for everyone .
Are you familiar with osteospermum , or are you getting start with grow them ? allow ’s get into it and see what we can learn , or be reminded of , when it comes to spring up these flower !
What You’ll Learn
Cultivation and History
comparative newcomers to the American horticulture aspect , osteospermum plants have a handful of nicknames , include the African daisy , Cape daisy , and star of the veld .
It hunt its history as an cosmetic landscape plant to South Africa . Now the “ Cape ” mention makes sense !
There ’s another related to plant also known as African daisy or Cape marigold , which is an annual . You canread more about Cape marigolds in our guide .
Osteospermumhas gone in and out of popularity over the twelvemonth since its introduction to the North American and European horticulture world .
primitively , gardener were hesitating to practice the Cape daisy because the flower heads would often close up during prolong period of cloudy weather , but the bright face and beamy flower petal turn out to outweigh that tiny drawback .
It has become increasingly popular in the US over the last few decades , and you could be certain to find these plants in just about any garden center .
Most of these are cultivars or hybrids ofO. barberae , O. caulescens , O. ecklonis , O. fruticosum , O. jucundum , andO. grandiflorum .
As an added bonus , you might really find your osteospermum under a totally dissimilar name .
Not long ago , our African daisy was classified in theDimorphothecagenus , along with the aforementioned Cape marigold ( Dimorphotheca sinuata ) , but the name was officially changed , so do n’t be surprised if you blot a Cape daisy with its original – but now incorrect – botanic name !
Propagation
Although most of the sentence you ’re going to be look for lively plants at garden centers , the Cape daisy also grows pronto and thirstily from seeded player and from cutting .
From Seed
If you ’re straight off seeding your osteospermum , wait until any danger of hoar has passed . The seedlings ca n’t tolerate dusty temperatures , so you ’ve got to be patient if you ’re direct sowing .
A mo of cheer and sparkle is vital to the growth of osteospermum seeds , but they will also need a small degree of cover .
The seeds are n’t especially finicky , and as long as the soil is of decent character , they will grow . Stiff , compacted soil on the other manus in all probability wo n’t allow them to thrive , so you ’ll require to encounter a different location if this sound like your hard flat coat .
I recommend adding averylight layer of compost over the top of the seeds , just enough that the seeds are n’t going to get wash away by the hose or the rain .
And while we ’re on the topic of water , it ’s best to aim for about an inch of water a hebdomad . Use awatering canor the mist setting on your hosiery nozzle to avoid launder away the seeds with a powerful torrent of water .
It can be difficult to accurately measure how much water your garden is bugger off . you could utilize a rain standard of measurement likethis one that ’s uncommitted via Amazon , or you could only go by feel . Do n’t let the soil dry out too much between watering and you ’re good .
When I say a slender layer , I mean it ! Ideally , it ’s going to be no more than the thickness of the seeded player . Another choice is to lay down that fragile layer of compost first , and then sprinkle the germ over top of it .
you’re able to sow in the seeds a few in apart , or – if you ’re like me and you like to do it live – just scatter the cum over the area where you desire them to grow .
You wo n’t see any germination for about three workweek , so be patient ! Once they ’re up , you may slenderize the seedlings out so there ’s about six inches of space between each .
You will get your first blooms in the late summertime and they ’ll continue throughout the fall if you manoeuvre sow , so it ’s decidedly a method acting reserved for the patient nurseryman .
If you ’re growing your osteospermum seedling indoors , they can be started eight to 10 weeks before the last Robert Lee Frost date in your arena .
They should be harden off to the outdoors over a period of two week . I plant about three seeds per cell and melt off them out when they ’re about two inches tall .
A final distinction on grow from seed : most osteospermums do n’t grow unfeigned to seed , so while any semen you reap might develop and bloom , they wo n’t look like the plant life you took them from . The great majority of plants you ’re fit to incur are hybrids .
From Cuttings
Not my favourite or best method for propagate osteospermum , but it work out .
you could take cutting from a healthy flora , but make trusted you are n’t cutting anything with a flower bud that ’s already take form . You ’re looking for leafy stems that are growing off of the master stem , about three or four inches in length .
Dip the cut portion of the bow into a rooting hormone if you want to speed the outgrowth up . You want to get as many cuttings as you may since this method acting seems to have a high charge per unit of loss .
Stick each halt into a seminal fluid jail cell filled with a moist growing mass medium . I ’ve had the best luck rooting slip in sand , but any potting commixture will mold .
Expect the cutting to look miserable . You would be measly , too , if you had a composition of yourself hack off and then crammed into some plastered gumption ! Over a few weeks , the cuttings should start to develop enough source that they ’re quick for transplanting .
It can be a balancing act to keep your soil at the proper moisture level here , since too little water can kill and too much water can … well , also down .
I wish to allow the surface of the land become dry to the ghost before watering again . This helps to forbid overwatering , which will make your cuttings to waste . Remember that sand and most land mixes can dry out up very quickly , so learn yours day by day .
It ’s difficult to see when the slip are quick for transplanting , but my go - to method is to only wait until you see tiny ancestor hair’s-breadth growing out of the drain cakehole in the seed cell .
From Seedlings/Transplanting
Your seedling or cuttings have root produce – corking ! If they ’re seedlings , they ’ve been indurate off to the out-of-door weather , and if they ’re cuttings they ’re looking warm and quick for the next stage of their journey .
Did you peck up your quick - to - plant life osteospermum from the nursery ? The process here is just the same .
On the guinea pig of buying your plant from the nursery , I ’ve had success with every size container you ’re likely to find useable for purchase .
From four - inch pots to big one - gallon sizes , they ’ll all grow when transplanted as long as the flora themselves are salubrious . It ’s unfortunate that many growers will embark out barely established seedling to nurseries , so check to see that your osteospermums have nice ancestor before buy if you ’re able to .
A footling gratuity I ’ve picked up is that it ’s good to buy a base - bound plant from the glasshouse than one that ’s barely rooted into its container .
you may well accost too many root ( rip off the bottom column inch of solution and you ’re good to go ) , but you ca n’t fix weak root word that break as you ’re take away the industrial plant from the container .
cautiously hit an osteospermum seedling from the cell tray and plant it where you want it to go , establish on the recommendations outline below .
Do your absolute best to baby that little hunk of soil the seedling or cutting is growing in . It ’s frighteningly light to damage the treasured roots by carelessly handle the dirt during transplanting .
In ecumenical , do n’t worry about dig out an enormous hole for your African daisies ! As long as the territory I ’m imbed in is n’t too compacted , a hole that is about an column inch wider and deeper than the root ball is double-dyed .
If you ’re planting into some badly compacted territory , you may dig out as much as twice the astuteness and diameter as your container ’s size and backfill with some higher quality , more holey surface soil .
you could vamoose all that scariness by using biodegradable seed cellular telephone . These cells are made from natural cloth and will break down easily when plant in the primer .
I have a erotic love - hate relationship with these because they’reawesomewhen they mould , but when they do n’t act upon , they ’re pieces of rubble .
120 Biodegradable Peat skunk
I think the trick is to corrupt practiced quality biodegradable seed cells wish theseavailable via Amazon . That way , it ’s not likely to fall apart before you ’re ready to transfer .
A final trick is to tear or curve off the very bottom of these seed cell when planting your osteospermum ( or anything else , for that topic ) , so the roots can grow unimpeded .
How to Grow
I ’ve got a skilful rails track record for make out and favoring plants that need about zero beloved and care , so osteospermums are an elision to my usual predilection .
These are n’t untoughened and soft babe , but they are absolutely at their good with some even fertilizing and deadheading .
Do n’t care , it ’s not as bad as it sounds . I just really do n’t like fertilize and deadheading !
Soil and Climate Needs
Overall , you ’re conk out to want to calculate for a place in your garden with well - run out grime that is on a regular basis watered , but never swampy and inebriate .
Full sunis the ideal shape for your osteospermum . Anything less than that will cater you with pretty , but lackluster , Cape daisies .
Ideally , the get area will have full-bodied soil as well . Mixing in somecompostat the beginning and close of the growing season is a good room to ensure this , but unconstipated fertilizing will do the trick as well .
Fertilizing
you may fertilize your Cape daisy regularly for best results , as often as every two to three weeks during the blooming period . you’re able to abbreviate back to once monthly during the hot summertime .
Everyone has their favorite fertilizers , and pretty much anything geared towards heyday and annuals will work for these flora .
My personal favourite choice are to use Espoma Plant - Tone , useable via Amazon , once a calendar month – a light sprinkling around the dripline of the plant .
Espoma Plant Tone
I follow that up with regular diligence of Jack ’s Classic Fertilizer , alsoavailable via Amazon .
Jack ’s Classic Fertilizer
I ’ve found the monthly Espoma eating plus applying Jack ’s in a three - week cycle is the ticket for big ol’ blooms on your osteospermum .
Sometimes this schedule will overlap . If it does , reapply the grainy fertilizer , expect a week , and then begin using a liquid feed again .
keep the soil in your garden or container rich is an easy way to ensure better blooms .
I combine in compost every yr if I reuse the same grow metier in my containers ( and I do that most eld ) , and give a gracious quarter - inch stratum to my garden beds at the outset of every season .
Osteospermums are large feeders , so I ’ll add a second covering of compost in September as well , as the season is winding down .
Watering
Cape daisies can handle period of time of drought but they do n’t like to do it , so do your best to ascertain they ’re getting even drinking without ever drying out for too long . At the same time , you do n’t need your osteospermum to be sitting in lactating , stagnant soil .
scoot for about aninch of water system a week , which is the more often than not accepted amount of water most ornamental landscape painting plants want . If your Cape daisy is in intense sun or the filth is very fast - draining , you might need to allow more frequent drinks .
While I often let my plant set forth to flag and await athirst before giving them a 2nd drink , it ’s not recommend with osteospermums . Keep them watered , but do n’t let them get wet feet !
Growing Tips
Maintenance
Do n’t be diffident , Guy , when it come todeadheadingyour osteospermums . The Cape daisy responds as well asmarigoldsandgeraniumswhen it comes to deadheading and finicky sustainment .
you may pluck the spent flower head off with your thumb and forefinger , or utilise a keen duo of pruning hook or scissors grip to do the deed .
Really , do n’t be unsure about it – it ’s hunky-dory !
I tend to reduce osteospermum back pretty hard in the summertime , since the Cape daisy tends to take a break during the hottest calendar month of the year .
It ’s a good chance to cut the plant back by about a third and let it fill out amply so that when the weather condition cools down in September , it ’s quick to bloom like a wild animal .
If you live in theUSDA Hardiness Zones9 to 11 , your osteospermum can be consider a suddenly - lived perennial ! All of the former conditions apply , but you ’ll want to cut your Cape daisy down to a top of about four inches in the springtime .
Cultivars to Select
Any osteospermum selections you ’re interested in are going to have the same introductory growing conditions and requirements as we detail above .
Asti ™ series seeds areavailable from unfeigned Leaf Market , either in white or a mix of colour include pinks and purples .
Asti Series
They ’re a solid choice and the colors are rich enough that they ’ll suit just about any locating where you could expend a splatter of it . This series was an All - America Selections bedding plant winner over multiple years , so it ’s got quite the pedigree .
As I ’ve got a flaccid maculation for orangish flowers , the ‘ Orange Symphony ’ is an excellent pick here , and it’savailable from Nature Hills Nursery .
‘ Orange Symphony ’
If you ’re looking for something that ’s less explosive in color , try ‘ Lavender Frost . ’ The flower are mostly bloodless but practically glow with a lavender shade .
‘ Lavender Frost ’
you may come up packets of 20 seedsavailable from S - Pone via Amazon .
On the other side of the coin , maybe youwantexplosive colour . In that case , correspond out the Akila ® Grand Canyon mix , a riot of quick colors very similar to the red rocks of the American Southwest .
Akila ® Grand Canyon Mix
These are fantabulous choices for a wild flower garden , or any place really where you desire to grab attending .
you may find packets of 50 seedsavailable from Garden Trends via Amazon .
Managing Pests and Disease
We ’ve got unspoiled news program and bad news for you here .
The serious news is that osteospermum has very few herbivore pests , so you do n’t unremarkably need to concern about rabbit or deer run through up your sunny blossom .
However , the Cape daisy can have issues with a few insect pests and diseases . Do n’t concern , though , with the right tutelage these issues should n’t present themselves !
Remember too that a few gadfly on your osteospermum , or any industrial plant for that matter , are n’t usually serious and do n’t require any treatment .
If you have a healthy garden , you ’ll have plenty of natural pest prevention in the form of predatory insects that gobble up anything looking to take a bite out of your Cape daisy .
And with the correct placement and watering habit , most fungal infections should be a non - issue .
Insects
You ’re likely to only see a few dirt ball issues on your osteospermum . luckily , hatful of piranha may exist by nature in your garden to combat these pests .
For both aphid and thrips , I apply Bonide Systemic Insecticide if the plants are maturate in a container .
Bonide Systemic Insecticide
This granular merchandise isavailable from Amazonin eight - ounce container .
Otherwise , a horticultural oil kit and caboodle wonders , and it ’s less harmful to beneficial insects than other option when applied correctly . Every product will have its own specific instructions for use , so be sure to be them .
If you ’re practice a spray , it ’s best to do it early in the break of the day before pollinator will lead off visit your flowers .
Horticultural oil is fantastic for kill egg and freshly brood pests , but it can still kill adults and sure types of beneficial insects , so that former - morning program will target the pests before more susceptible insect are dynamic .
I have to stress again that most of the metre , it ’s in the best interestingness of your plant and your garden to permit nature take the wheel and eliminate louse pests .
If you do adjudicate you want tospray them away , that ’s o.k. , but remember – a picayune bit of these treatments goes a long way .
The ever - present plague in every garden , aphid can dig into your osteospermums and leech out all of the food your industrial plant is trying to process into bigger , full blooms .
A bad aphid plague can quickly gyrate out of command and bear upon your other plants , but this floor of infestation is n’t especially common .
Read more about aphids here .
Most of the thrips you might encounter are going to be hitchhikers from the greenhouse where your springy plants were grow . En masse they can be a serious trouble , but this is a somewhat rare plague to see “ in the natural state ” on your Cape daisy .
say our pathfinder to care with thrip for more info .
Whiteflies are annoying pesterer , and difficult ones to get rid of .
Horticultural oil is your just bet here , but whitefly can be super difficult to for good remove .
As long as the whiteflies are n’t completely taking over , horticultural oil will keep them under control . But if the infestation is serious , it ’s best to destroy the plant to prevent the bug from circulate .
One of my favorite bugs in terms of appearing , earwig can be fatal for your osteospermum if only because they destroy the beautiful flower petals , and they do it at dark so you wo n’t even have a chance to catch them in the act .
Earwigs will look for cool , damp places to rest at Nox , so keeping a tidy garden or container is your downright best mode of prevention for keep these pest away .
you’re able to also make a footling “ sand trap ” by combining olive oil and soybean sauce in a shallow dish or bowl . The earwigs will go up into the likable liquid state and drown .
instruct more about how to deal with earwig in our guide .
Though these are n’t touch , both are constant cuss in the garden , and these critters will often outright devour any greenery your Cape daisy has produce .
Enough natural predator live for both of these that any potential damage from a caterpillar orslugis get going to be decorative at best .
Your best form of defence here is to handpick each bug and toss it into your G so a bird or other animal can have a tasty dejeuner .
Disease
Most osteospermums that succumb to disease are weakened first by environmental stressor , or as the result of poor growing conditions .
That said , I ’m intimate with disgusting and muggy summer . When the atmosphere is like soup , there ’s not much you may do to combat the hike of these issuing .
A steady publication in most garden , downy mold – because of a variety of different types of water supply mold – is readily identifiable . Your osteospermum leaves will develop laughable - looking spots and a muzzy app on the undersides .
My unspoiled advice here is that a little downy mold is n’t the end of the universe , and it ’s okay to let it sit down . Remove infected material and destroy it to prevent further spreadhead .
However , if the condition becomes severe , you ’ll need to apply something like this copper fungicidal spray , usable from Arbico Organics , to keep it in check .
Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide
Because your osteospermums like that fast - draining grime , they can easily be bothered by a variety of fungal issues that may develop from unconventional lachrymation practices .
A atomic number 29 fungicidal atomizer can be used to process these issues if they rise and are n’t keep away course .
you’re able to avoid the ranch of fungal issue by not splashing the works ’ leaves with piss and guarantee there is adequate airflow between plants .
Most fungal issues begin in overly moist environs with a want of flow of air , so if you could eliminate these consideration you ’re on the right path to a disease - innocent osteospermum .
Best Uses
While I fuck to utilise the Cape daisy as a container plant in most situations , it also grows very well in garden bed that have full Sunday . I ’ve had expectant luck growing Cape daisies with other outflow - and - fall bloomers likesnapdragons , pansies , andalyssum .
These blossom can be used to add a spattering of people of color in an herbaceous plant garden , and they do well withlavenderandthymeespecially .
Osteospermum can fit very well with geraniums , marigolds , and other “ summer ” annuals too , and they fill in a prissy corner – the Cape daisies are in full efflorescence when their summertime - loving friends are still originate , and they restfully retreat to the background when the marigold and other strong - weather options are really exploding with bloom .
I ’ve also found Cape daisy withGaillardiaandDichondra‘Silver Falls ’ and just do it the combination , especially with somedusty millerin the mix .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Grow Oodles of Osteospermum
What a great blossom ! We ’ve ascertain all about the conditions osteospermums demand to thrive and what troubles you might find in your garden when you ’re produce them .
This is an excellent flowering yearly , or perhaps it will produce as a perennial in your garden if you ’re in the quick USDA Zones .
As always , give thanks you for reading Gardener ’s Path . We ’ll see you next clip !
And for more information aboutgrowing daisiesin your garden , check off out these guides next :
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About
Matt Suwak
