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Gerbera jamesonii

By Gwen Nyhus Stewart

Gerbera jamesonii, commonly known as Gerbera Daisy, Transvaal Daisy, African Daisy, or Barberton Daisy, is the fifth most used cut flower in the world after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip. The plants are also widely used as decorative garden plants or houseplants.

Originally from South Africa (Transvaal and Cape Province), Gerbera is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family. The domesticated cultivars result from a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and another South African species Gerbera viridifolia. The cross is known as Gerbera hybrida.

This plant is a perennial herb with deeply lobed leaves covered with silky hairs arising from a crown. The striking inflorescence is borne on a long stalk and the outermost petals may be cream, red, yellow, orange, pink or purple, while the central flowers are cream and sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colours.

Gerbera grow 12-18 in. (30-45 cm) high, spread up to about 24 in. (60 cm) wide, and have solitary flowerheads that can grow up to about 4 in. (10 cm) across. Gerbera is a tropical perennial grown as an annual garden plant or indoor houseplant in colder climates. These are great plants for adding colour to any room or garden or for transplanting into the garden. Outdoors, flowering occurs in spring and autumn. Indoors, gerbera will bloom all year round.

How to Grow

Gerbera can be started from seed. Start seed indoors 8-10 weeks before planting out. Press seed into surface of potting mix, do not cover with soil. Always use fresh seed, provide bottom heat of 70-75°F (21-24°C) and light. The seeds should germinate in 15-30 days. Seed has a short viability for good germination. If seeds fail to germinate within about 20 days it is likely the seeds will not germinate at all. Transplant outside 1 week after last frost, into a full sun location or part shade location, 12in. (30 cm) apart. Gerbera needs cool nights to bloom and will overwinter in mild climates if the soil is well drained.

Proper Care

Soil Prefers a rich, moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil.

Light Full Sun. Place into a direct sunlight position: plants require a high light source to produce an abundance of flowers. Plant can be grown quite well in partially shaded position, but tend to flower poorly. Provide shade if summers are very hot.

Flower Removal Cut off (deadhead) spent flowers at the base of their stems using scissors.

Vase life Up to 14 days. To prolong vase life: every 4-5 days, change the water, rinse the vase, and re-cut the flowers stem. This will double the life of your flower.

Fertilizer Fertilize weekly with half-strength liquid fertilizer (half of what the package recommends) in water every other week in spring and summer.

Temperature Prefers warm weather.

Potting/re-potting Dig up plants, and pot them up to bring indoors for the winter; or treat the plants as annuals, and buy new ones each year.

Seed Collecting Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry.

Propagation Methods Gerbera is propagated by root division, stem cuttings and can be grown from seed. Basal cuttings should be taken in summer. Use of a rooting hormone may increase your success and shorten the time needed from cutting to potting into their own pots. Division should be taken in early spring; try to minimize the damage to the plants root when dividing or transplanting.

Watering Water regularly; do not overwater. This plant requires consistently moist soil especially when in flower; do not let dry out between waterings. Water and deadhead regularly.

Indoor Watering One of the best way of watering plants grown indoors, is by placing the plant into a shallow saucer, fill the saucer with water and allow the plant to draw up as much water as it needs.

Care & Tips Remove old leaves to prevent fungus infections. When re-potting ensure the crown of the plant is above the level of the soil.

Special Points Gerbera is attractive to butterflies, birds, and bees and is resistant to deer.

Potential Problems While healthy Gerberas are rarely bothered by pests, plants in a poor environment or poorly cared for, can be attacked by aphids, leaf spots, mites, and whiteflies. Fungus and stem rot is a common problem with over watered plants.

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