Are Gazanias Perennials?
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Gazania, called African daisy, treasure flower or just "gazania," can be considered a perennial, but that's only part of the story. This showy, bright-colored flower loves sun and lots of it. Perhaps that's why it's so pleasingly bright yellow.
But gazania (Gazania spp.) is a tender perennial, growing in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, so most gardeners grow this valuable landscape addition as an annual.
Is Gazania an Annual or a Perennial?
If you look at a U.S. map detailing the areas where gazania can safely be grown outdoors year round (provided by the University of Florida) and you don't live in Hawaii, your options are the extreme south and the West Coast. If you live elsewhere, grow these flowers as annuals.
Tip
Be sure to know your USDA hardiness zone before planting gazanias and hoping to grow them as perennials. Remember that plants growing in a container require two zones warmer than plants in the ground, because they have far less protection from frost and freezes.
When they are grown as perennials, these flowers die back all the way to the ground in the late fall and then produce new growth in the spring. As annuals, you need to replant each year, in which case you can either purchase new plants or grow new plants from seed. Gazania is also known to self-seed.
How to Keep Gazanias Blooming
Gazania flowers are inherently tough and long lasting. They close at night and reopen the next morning, so don't worry that they are finished if you see them closed up tight. They may not open on cloudy days, either.
In addition, they might stop blooming during the hot, dog days of summer but begin to rebloom in fall when the days cool off.
To ensure the best blooming, plant these beauties in full sun. When each flower is spent, be sure to deadhead to promote more blooms.
Do Gazanias Bloom All Year?
If you are growing gazania as an annual, will it continue to bloom all year? No, it won't.
Although an evergreen perennial in warm climates, it becomes quiescent—not quite dormant but ceasing activity—during very warm or cold months.
For example, in Phoenix's hot summers, gazania stops growing and does not bloom, while it grows and blooms from October to April, reports Arizona State University.
Growing Gazanias in Pots
If you grow gazania in a container, you can bring it into an unheated garage or other area during the winter months, possibly allowing it to grow as a perennial in colder climates. However, this is not assured and depends on environmental conditions and the health of the plant.
Be sure to choose a pot with good drainage holes filled with high-quality potting soil. Use a larger pot than you might otherwise use to provide more insulation through soil bulk. Water the plant well before bringing it indoors.
Check the soil moisture regularly because you don't want it to dry out, but you also need to avoid overwatering to keep the plant from developing root rot.
In spring, when the weather warms sufficiently, take the pot back outside to resume growth.
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Writer Bio
I garden in the Pacific North west, previously Hawaii where I had an avocado orchard. I have a Master Gardeners certificate here in Eugene, Oregon.
