Gazania Sunshine Hybrids Mix is the ultimate, striking, and profusely flowering annual, which can sometimes bloom as early as 12 weeks after sowing. Gazanias originate from South Africa and have an exotic appearance. Gazania belongs to the Asteraceae family (Compositae), just like yarrow, yellow chamomile, common chamomile, daisies, asters, marigolds, cornflowers, endive, lettuce, curry plant, marguerite, African marigold, dandelion, lettuce, and sunflower.
This mix contains flowers in particularly vivid, warm, and sometimes bright colors such as yellow, white, orange, red, and pink. It is especially suitable for flower beds, borders, flower boxes, pots, and rock gardens in very sunny locations. Gazania grows best in full sun, where the flowers open fully. They love warmth, tolerate heat well, but are sensitive to frost. Gazanias require less water than most other plants. This continuously blooming variety creates a dazzling effect with its extra-large, daisy-like flowers in various warm and bright colors. This very easy-to-grow plant is usually cultivated as an annual in cooler climates (Netherlands and Belgium) but can be kept as a perennial in very sheltered spots. Regularly remove spent flowers to enjoy these beautiful blooms for longer. Gazanias are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, bumblebees, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects. They bloom from May to October. Semi-hardy annual. Height: 20 - 30 cm.
Indoor sowing: beginning of February - end of April
Germination: 5 - 12 days
Germination temp.: 20 - 21 °C
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Plant distance: 15 - 30 cm
Plant position: very sunny and sheltered
Flowering period: May - October
Sow indoors from the beginning of february till the end of april for flowering in the year of sowing. Sow in trays filled with moist potting soil. Sow thinly and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Press the seeds in gently and keep moist. Cover the trays with glass, clingfilm or a lid. Keep the temperatuur as constant as possible on 21°C. Also during the night. After approx. 5 - 12 days the seedlings appear. Remove the lid when the seedlings emerge. Put the seedlings, when they're large enough to handle, in seperate pots of approx. 5 - 7 cm across. Harden the seedlings of by putting them outside during the day for approx. 10 - 14 days from the beginning of may.
Plant the hardened seedlings outdoors from the middel of may, when there's no longer any risk of nightfrosts. Keep them 15 - 30 cm apart. Put the plants on a very sunny plot with shelter against the wind and very free draining soil. Keep moist and weedfree. Deadhead the flowers for a prolonged flowering period. Use this drought loving plant on the really warm and drought spots in the garden. To make sure that Your seedlings thrive, You have to put them in soil that is already heated up by the sun.
You can overwinter Your Gazanias by putting them indoors when the have ceased flowering. Remove all dried up leaves and all dead flowers and put the plants indoors in pots in a dry, light and frost free room. These plants can be put outdoors in the following year from the middle of may, when there's no longer any risk of night frosts.
