Gerbera Daisy

 
            Hi everybody! Today we are going to talk about Gerbera Daisies. These colorful gems are actually an ancestor of the sunflower family. They were named after the German naturalist Traugott Gerber.  You can use these beautiful flowers as both a garden accent for color and as cut flowers for your home or office.

            This plant species boasts having at least 30 varieties that can be found around the globe from South America to the tropics of Asia. These plants are known for their striking colors that cover a wide area of the color spectrum. The colors available include yellow, orange, white, pink and shades of red. The large flower has the appearance of one large flower but in actuality, the colorful bud is actually made up of several hundred smaller flowers.

            The Gerbera daisy has many uses in the landscape including accent plants to add color and they can also be planted in masses to create a striking center of attention effect. When choosing your plants, look for plants that have dark green leaves and no dry brown spots present on the foliage.

            Since Gerbera daisies require regular watering, be sure to locate them in an area where your hose or sprinkler system will reach the plant. They can be planted in full sun but they will require almost daily watering, especially during the warmer months. If you plant them in areas of filtered or partial sun, their watering needs will be reduced. Since the Gerbera daisy has a watery type of stem, they will wilt if they are not watered properly. If they are promptly watered, they will almost always recover and bounce right back. The main way to keep these plants thriving is to maintain the moisture in the soil consistently and not allow the plants to dry out completely between watering cycles.

            You can plant your daisies in either containers or in the ground. Container planting will require more watering, but you can move the plants easily if necessary. In all cases, use a good quality potting soil like Miracle Gro for optimum results.

            I think one of the greatest benefits of Gerbera daisies is the ability to use them in cut flower arrangements. In fact, Gerbera’s are the fifth most widely used cut flower in the world. If you have a garden with multiple plantings, you can have a fresh flower or two in your vase almost every day. For me, it is a real treat to be able to walk outside and bring a beautiful piece of nature indoors for everyone to enjoy. In addition, cutting the flowers from the plant will also encourage the plant to produce more flowers in the future.

            There is yet another advantage to using these flowers in your landscape, they bloom repeatedly. The plant is also attractive to bees and butterflies.