Gazania, also known as treasure flower, is two names for the same flower.
Scientific name: Gazania rigens
Family and genus: Asteraceae, Gazania
Type: perennial herbaceous plant
Alternative name: treasure flower, named for its badge-like shape.
Origin: South Africa
Morphological characteristics:
The gazania has a peculiar flower shape and rich colors, with a dark eye spot in the center of the flower that resembles a badge, giving it a strong wild charm. It is a common potted flower and flowerbed flower in gardens.
It has rhizomes, and the leaves grow in clusters from the root crown. The leaf blades are lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate, entire or with shallow pinnate lobes, and the leaf backs are densely covered with white hairs; the flower heads are capitula, and the ray florets are white, yellow, orange-red, and other colors, with glossy petals.
Growth habits:
It grows in clumps and has a long flowering period. It prefers a warm, sunny climate and well-drained, loose, fertile soil. It likes coolness, is not frost-tolerant, and dislikes high temperatures, high humidity, and waterlogging. The gazania is graceful in color and form. Its flowers open facing the sun and close as the sun sets, repeating this for about 10 days before withering. It performs better when planted in the ground, with stronger plants and more flowers.
The gazania is tolerant of low temperatures and not afraid of frost, but it cannot endure prolonged freezing. In warmer regions, it needs to be covered to overwinter before winter arrives, while in cold northern regions it cannot overwinter outdoors.
The gazania has a relatively wide range of adaptability to temperature and light, and can grow well at 10-30°C. Under greenhouse cultivation, it blooms continuously all year round.
The average suitable temperature for gazania growth is 15°C-20°C, of which the suitable growth temperature from March to September is 13°C-24°C, and the suitable growth temperature from September to the following March is 7°C-13°C. The gazania is relatively adaptable to high temperatures above 30°C. In winter, the temperature should not be lower than 5°C. Although it can withstand short periods of 0°C low temperature, prolonged low temperatures can easily cause frost damage. The gazania is relatively sensitive to moisture. During the stem and leaf growth period, the soil needs to be moist. In the plum rain season, if there is too much soil moisture, the plant is prone to waterlogging and death. During high summer temperatures, air humidity should not be too high, and the potting soil should not accumulate water, otherwise both are unfavorable to the growth and flowering of the gazania. The gazania is a light-loving flower and needs sufficient sunlight during both the growth and flowering periods. If the cultivation site has insufficient light, the leaves will become soft, the flower buds will decrease, the flowers will become smaller, and the flower color will fade. The gazania grows well in fertile, loose, and well-drained sandy loam.
The potting soil can be a mixed soil of culture soil, leaf mold, and coarse sand. During the growth period, fertilize once every half month. Keep the potting soil moist and provide sufficient sunlight, and the gazania can bloom continuously. If seeds are not to be kept, promptly cut off the spent flowers after they fade, which can reduce nutrient consumption, promote the formation of more flower buds, and continue flowering. In winter, place the gazania indoors for cultivation, and it can still continue to bloom.
Common cultivated varieties include the early-flowering types Dawn, Fresh Orange, Red Stripe, Harlequin, and others; the dwarf varieties Daybreak Star, Mini Star, Talent, and others; and the large-flowered varieties Sunshine, Yellow Sunrise, and others. In addition, there are also multi-flowered types such as Aztec Queen, Red Wine, Copper King, and Red Festival.
Harvesting precautions: The seeds are covered with fuzz and will fly away with the wind after ripening, so care must be taken when harvesting.