Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Well-drained soil of average fertility.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Limited. The varieties sold as bedding plants can tolerate light frosts, but are meant to be grown as summer annuals.
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Feeding
Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. In summer, drench plants every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer.
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Companions
African daisies look best when planted in groups or masses, perhaps framed with dusty miller, ageratum or annual verbena. Osteospermum make great flowers for containers.
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Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Only a few varieties of osteospermum are grown from seed. The heavy flowering varieties are propagated from rooted stem cuttings and sold as potted plants in spring. Set plants out at about the time of your last spring frost.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Osteospermum colors include pink, white, and shades of yellow. The plants will bloom for eight weeks or more if old flowers are removed. Note: A different flower, Arctotis daisy, also goes by the common name of African daisy. Arctotis plants have hairy leaves and prefer leaner, drier growing conditions compared to osteospermum.
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Harvesting
When cut as soon as they open, osteospermum make good cut flowers.
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Troubleshooting
As plants age, they sometimes develop problems with powdery mildew. Aphids may occasionally feed on new growing tips and buds. Pinch off large colonies.
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