How to grow gazanias

Gazanias, also known as treasure flowers for their jewel bright blooms, are fantastic for bringing colour to patios and sunny borders. They're either grown as annuals or as spreading, evergreen perennial plants. The daisy-type flowers love sunshine and if they don't get enough of it, will close up. The blooms come in shades of rose, red, pink, bronze, gold and orange and are set off by the cool green foliage.

Where to grow gazanias

Native to South Africa, gazanias love a hot, sunny position in the garden. Soil should be moderately fertile and well-drained. Gazanias will do well in coastal and gravel gardens and suit containers and hanging baskets.

When to plant gazanias

Annual gazanias can be sown from seed in late winter/early spring. The best time to plant perennial gazanias is in early summer, when the danger of frost is over as gazanias are not frost hardy.

How to plant gazanias

Sow in pots or trays of seed compost. Sow on the surface of the compost and then lightly cover with either compost or vermiculite. Gazania benefit from heat to germinate, so either place in a heated propagator or in a clear plastic bag on a warm windowsill. When your gazania seedlings are big enough to handle, transplant into pots and grow on indoors until the danger of frost is over. In late May or June, harden off plants for a week or so, moving plants outdoors during the day and bringing them undercover at night.

When planting gazanias outdoors, choose a sunny spot either in the border or a container full of multipurpose compost. Plant so that the rootball is level with the surrounding soil or compost and firm. Water well and regularly during any dry periods, especially if gazanias are growing in pots or hanging baskets.

How to care for gazanias

Deadhead gazanias regularly to ensure a continuous supply of flowers right through the summer.

Water well after planting and check containers regularly during dry periods. Plants will need watering during dry periods but let the compost dry out between waterings to avoid root rot.

Feed container grown gazanias fortnightly with potash-rich fertiliser.

Pot-grown perennial gazanias can be overwintered indoors. Cut back plants by two thirds before bringing under cover.

How to propagate gazanias

Take basal cuttings of gazanias in late summer to autumn to create more plants. Overwinter the cuttings undercover and plant out in early summer once the danger of frost is over.

Pests and diseases

Gazanias are generally pest and disease free when grown outdoors. Look out for aphids when brought indoors overwinter. They can occasionally be susceptible to grey mould. To avoid this, keep the greenhouse well ventilated and cut off any dead or drying stems promptly.

Gazania varieties to try

Gazania 'Big Kiss White Flame' - the large white and pink-striped petals are almost as big as your hand. Perfect for filling gaps in a sunny summer border, or for growing in a container.

• Buy Gazania 'Big Kiss White Flame' from Just Seeds

Gazania 'Tiger Stripes' - has bright yellow and orange-striped blooms. It's perfect for using in a tropical container display with other fiery coloured flowers, as well as in the border to fill gaps. There are also seed mixes available with striped flowers in yellow, pink, bronze and cream.

• Buy Gazania 'Tiger Stripes Mixed' from Thompson & Morgan

Gazania ‘Kiss Bronze’ - bears double flowers in a cheerful bronze-orange.

Gazania 'Kiss Gold' - flowers early on in the summer, and will even flower on duller days

Gazania rigens 'Variegata' - an evergreen, variegated perennial to 25cm. Flowers are yellow or orange and leaves dark green edged with yellow and cream