Gazania is a South African perennial that looks similar to a daisy, but in bold, brilliant yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, cream and even a beautiful mauve and a burgundy color. It's a plant that is perfect for window boxes or any hot, dry and sunny spot.

I grouped together the pinks and mauve with dusty miller, which is a silver gray color. I also used the yellows and oranges in another box. I was able to find them by the flat this year which was a super savings over buying the individual plants.

The type of gazania I bought, Daybreak Mix, only grows to 8 inches tall, and grows to about 9" wide and I grouped them fairly close in the porch boxes. The flowers close each night and reopen the next morning in the sun.

The flowers can be used as a cutting flower too. Give gazanias good drainage and full sun for them to do their best. They are very drought tolerant. We treat it as an annual here in the Midwest, but if you live in a mild climate, such as Zones 9 and 10, it will overwinter and last at least 2-3 seasons.

Gazania can be grown from seed as well and will bloom about 12 weeks from sowing. Last year I grew quite a few of these too, and found they benefited from deadheading the blooms and trimming any browned foliage. I do this through the first of September and they give me beautiful blooms in autumn, which really brighten up the landscape.

Gazanias do excellent in my flower beds as well. I used them to fill in between the perennials and in the front of the beds. They bloomed right up until frost, but they are sun lovers and won't do as well even in partial shade. All of the gazania colors are vibrant and add a burst of color to flower boxes, pots and beds.

Top Image: Wikimedia.org

Bottom Image: Brenda Hyde