African Daisy

The African Daisy (Dimorphotheca aurantiaca), also known as the African Cape Marigold, are one of the colorful flowers for a beautiful garden. The African daisy flowering plant is excellent for naturalized areas and as ground cover for large areas, for parking strips, borders, large pots and tubs.

Kingdom

Plantae

Division

Magnoliophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Asterales

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Dimorphotheca

The African daisy flowers are 1-1/2 inch wide flowers, which close at night, in the shade, and during cloud cover. The African daisy flowers are in shades of white, orange and yellow and apricot. Synonyms of African Daisy are: Dimorphotheca integrifolia, Dimorphotheca calendulacea, Dimorphotheca dentata, Dimorphotheca aurantiaca.

Facts About African Daisies

• African Daisies are herbaceous annuals.
• African Daisies grow to a height of 1 - 1.5ft.
• African Daisies produces a fruit with abundant seeds.
• The genus name, Dimorphotheca, means two shapes of seed since the plant produces two non�identical seed forms.
• African Daisies blooms during April-August.
• African Daisies start to germinate in 10-30 days.

Growing African Daisies

• African daisies need full sun and a light dry soil.
• African daisies seeds can be sown in spring after frosts.
• Just cover the seeds and keep them moist but not wet.
• Sow them about 4 inches apart in the soil.
• Add a general purpose fertilizer to the African daisies once a month.
• African daisies doesn's transplant well, so plant where you want them.

Care of African Daisies

• Remove old and spent leaves to prevent fungus infections.
• When repotting see that the crown of the plant is above the level of the soil.
• Generally, African Daisies do not need insecticides or fungicides.
• If a problem arises treat them with an insecticidal soap and /or fungicide.
• Mulching is done around but not on top of the plants with 3 inches of organic compost.
• Water the plant well weekly until soil is completely moist.