gerbera daisy gerbera jamesonii
Who doesn’t love a daisy? Gerberas produce flowers up to 4 in. in diameter atop single, unbranched stems, making them excellent for cutting. They’re also perfect in containers, as you see here.Make sure to plant them high, so water won’t collect in the crowns and rot them. Water and then let the soil dry out on the surface before watering again. But don’t let the foliage wilt, or you’ll have fewer flowers. To keep them blooming their best, feed gerberas once a season with slow-release 14-14-14 fertilizer.
Let your eyes be your guide when shopping — gerbera daisies come in a wide variety of colors, but aren’t usually sold as named varieties. You can also start gerberas from seed indoors in fall or spring. Seedlings need warmth, so keep them at 55 to 65 degrees until you move them outside.
TYPE Annual/tender perennial SIZE 18 in. tall and wide BLOOM All colors but blue in summer LIGHT Sun to part shade SOIL Well-drained, fertile PESTS Crown rot HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 8 to 12; Heat: AHS zones 12 to 1
