Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii), also called Transvaal daisy, has daisy-like blooms on leafless stems that rise above a clump of leaves. The plant is native to South Africa and is the parent of many hybrid gerberas. Flowers are usually red, with yellow, orange, white or pink less common. Other listings describe many shades, including lavender and salmon. Blooms are 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) across.

Plant outdoors in spring, after the danger of frost has passed. Space plants 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) apart. Give them full sun in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Avoid soggy soil, which can cause root rot. Set the crown level with the soil, or at or slightly above it. Home gardeners can also propagate by division in early spring, or by basal or heel cuttings in summer.

Watering. Keep the soil moist, but let the crown dry out between waterings to reduce crown and root rot. Water early in the day and avoid overhead irrigation. Feeding. Use a controlled-release fertilizer two to three times during the growing season, or a liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Mulch and deadheading. Spread a 2 to 3 inch (5 to 8 cm) layer of organic mulch, such as pine straw or pine bark. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Overwintering. Container plants can be brought indoors and kept barely moist at 45 to 50 °F (7 to 10 °C), with good light and air movement.

Soggy soil can cause root rot, and gray mold, powdery mildew and anthracnose are the disease problems to watch for. Whiteflies, aphids, thrips and spider mites are common pests. Leaf miners can also visit, and deer occasionally damage the plant. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can help, but don’t use either when the temperature is above 90 °F (32 °C) or in full sun, as this may damage the plant.

Blooms make long-lasting cut flowers, and the flowers are listed as a good choice for cutting. Deadhead spent flowers to keep the plant blooming.

Cats and dogs: this plant is listed as non-toxic to both. This listing appears as a tag and has not been checked against a separate animal poison reference, so confirm before relying on it for pets.