Lampranthus leaves look like pine needles, yet its flowers look like chrysanthemums

Lampranthus is an interesting genus of plants, with daisy-like flowers and needle-like leaves. Native to southern Africa, this genus has more than 150 species. Most are easy to grow and bloom. The botanical name Lampranthus comes from the Greek "Lampros" (bright) and anthos (flower).

· Leaves: The stubby leaves grow in pairs and can be cylindrical or nearly triangular. They are short and usually blue-green.

· Flowers: The daisy-like petals only open in sunlight. Different species differ in color: yellow, orange, pink and red. The flowers form near the tips of the stems. Some varieties bloom for a longer time, while others have a flowering period of only a few weeks.

Hardiness

It is not tolerant of heat, and should not be overly damp during the growing period. Apart from hot days, it needs good light. Spring and autumn are the main growing periods for Lampranthus. Lampranthus is a very typical sun-loving plant, and only blooms when fully bathed in the midsummer sun

Light

All varieties of Lampranthus grow and bloom in full sun.

Mature plant size

The size varies among species, but most commonly grown Lampranthus varieties remain 60 cm tall or shorter and have a spreading habit.

Bloom time

There is sporadic repeat blooming throughout the season; however, the whole of summer is the concentrated blooming season.