Gazania × splendens
garden treasure flower
Garden origin; parent species from southern Africa
Overview
Gazania × splendens is a low, mat-forming tender perennial grown as a warm-season annual, reaching 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) tall and 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) wide. It is a garden hybrid of Gazania spp. species from southern Africa. Lance-shaped leaves form a basal rosette, dark green above and covered with silvery-white hairs beneath, sometimes lobed. Daisy-like flower heads 3–4 inches (7.5–10 cm) across rise on short stalks in shades of orange, yellow, red, pink, cream, and bronze, often banded with a darker ring near the center. The heads open in bright sun and close in late afternoon and on overcast days. Plants bloom from late spring through fall in full sun and tolerate heat, drought, salt, and poor sandy soil once established. Flowering thins in shade and in cool, damp weather, and roots rot in heavy or wet soil. The plant is hardy only in USDA zones 9–11, grown as an annual elsewhere. In humid climates it is prone to crown and root rot.
Native Range
Gazania × splendens is a hybrid of garden origin derived from Gazania spp. species native to South Africa and neighboring areas, where they grow in coastal sands and dry grassland. The hybrids have no wild range and are raised from seed and cuttings. In mild, dry climates the plants have naturalized on roadsides and dunes.Suggested Uses
Used as a groundcover, in edging, and in mass plantings on hot, dry banks, spaced 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) apart. It fills containers, window boxes, and the front of sunny borders. The plant suits coastal and xeric gardens where heat and salt limit other choices.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 10"
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring through fall, peaking in the heat of summer. The heads open in direct sun by mid-morning and close in late afternoon and in cloudy weather. Bees and other insects visit the open flowers. Bloom slows in cool, wet, or shaded conditions.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
orange, yellow, red, pink, cream, and bronzeFoliage Description
dark green with silver undersideGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun and fast-draining, sandy or gritty soil at pH 5.5–7.5 suit Gazania × splendens. The plant is drought-tolerant once established and needs only occasional deep watering, while wet or heavy soil brings crown and root rot. It withstands heat, wind, and coastal salt. In USDA zones 9–11 plants persist year-round; in colder zones they are grown as annuals set out after the last frost. Light feeding keeps plants blooming, and overly rich soil produces leaves at the expense of flowers. Flowering is heaviest where nights stay warm and the site is open and sunny.Pruning
Removing faded flower heads keeps plants blooming and tidy through the season. Shearing leggy or heat-stressed plants by about one-third in midsummer renews compact growth and flowering. No structural pruning is needed on these low plants.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons