Gazanias are low-growing half half-hardy perennials in the aster family (Asteraceae) and are native to coastal areas of southern Africa. The genus name comes come from the Latin word gaza meaning "treasure". Gazanias prefer sandy to average well-drained soils and are tolerant of loams and poor soils. Allow the soil to dry between waterings, plant in full sun for best blooming and deadhead to encourage continued blooms. They will grow 1/2 to 1 foot tall and wide. The blooms of this plant are orange to yellow on trailing stems and close at night and may not open completely on cloudy days. During the hottest part of summer in the south, they may stop blooming until fall as they do best in cool summer areas. There are many cultivars available in a variety of colors. They are best grown as an annual in containers or hanging baskets. They can be planted the garden in borders or mass plantings of cottage and pollinator gardens. Containers can be overwintered indoors or stem cuttings can be rooted and overwintered. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Do not overwater to prevent root rot. Powdery mildew and mealybugs may occur. Watch for aphids if taken indoors. Some cultivars have shown poor resistance to phytophthora root rot and stem rot.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Cascading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Basal leaves are 1.5- 4.5 inches long and can be long and narrow or deeply divided like dandelion leaves. They are green on the upper surface and whitish with hairs on the lower surface.
Flower color
Orange
Flower value
Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
3-4 inch solitary daisy-like blooms appear on up to 10-inch stems. They are orange to yellow with a black eye at the base and an orange-brown center disc. Cultivars offer other colors.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Capsules split to release seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Trailing stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Coastal areas of southern Africa
Distribution
Naturalized in Mediterranean areas, New Zealand and Australia