Also known as the Transvaal or African Daisy and B's favourite! Gerbera are more often as not grown as indoor or greenhouse plants although they do go well in the border and there are now some hardy species which can be overwintered in the garden. This one was given to us as a present and I really wasn't sure it was going to last beyond a few weeks. Nevertheless in my usual mood of blind optimism I replanted it and as it's been such a lovely warm summer, it not only survived but flourished in the garden as part of a display at the end of the path. As the days are getting shorter and the nights cooler it's been brought inside to overwinter in the house.
Family: Ateraceae/Compositae. Depending on which reference book your using it can be categorised as just Asteraceae or both.
Position: Full sun in sandy soil. Ours is in normal multi-purpose compost with regular feeding and also in partial shade but still did well.
Flowers: Summer - all summer in our case and still producing buds.
Dimensions: 18 - 25cm high by approx 25cm wide - will keep you posted if it spreads!
Habit: Small evergreen herbaceous perennials - tender to half hardy.
Care: As ours is in a ceramic pot it needs watering regularly. Keep the slugs/snails away from it and when it's inside make sure it doesn't get too hot or cold.
Pruning: Leave it to it's own devices apart from dead heading.
Propagation: By seed in early spring or autumn. Basal cuttings in summer or division of established plants. Ours will be divided when it outgrows the current pot. It did have time to seed in the garden before coming in so who knows?
Origin/Distribution: South Africa and every florist shop and roadside flower van you've ever visited.
Key:
Bold/italics = RHS
Everything else = me
LxXx
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