African Daisy

Year-round

African daisy is a woody-based evergreen perennial originally from South Africa, so it is an introduced garden plant here. It is also sold as Osteospermum ecklonis. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide and prefers full sun and soil that drains well.

• Plant in full sun. The flowers open mainly in sunshine.
• Use well-drained soil. Waterlogged soil can lead to root rot.
• Water regularly. It tolerates drought but flowers better with steady moisture.
• Deadhead spent flowers for more blooms.

Deadheading and one yearly cut-back keep the mound compact and looking tended.

Fall

Fall is the time to finish cutting the plant back.

• Finish cutting back old sprawling branches by mid autumn, down to younger side growth.
• Keep deadheading while it still flowers.
• Ease off feeding.

Winter

The plant is evergreen, so it holds its leaves through winter. The main job is keeping the roots out of soggy soil.

• Check that winter rain drains away from the crown. Waterlogged soil can cause root rot.
• Leave major cutting for late summer to mid autumn.

Spring

Spring starts the long bloom season. Light feeding and steady water set it up.

• Feed lightly with a balanced slow-release fertilizer or compost. Too much reduces flowering.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.
• Begin deadheading as the first flowers fade.

Summer

Keep up with water and deadheading through summer. Late summer is when the cut-back window opens.

• Water regularly and check that the soil still drains.
• Deadhead to keep new blooms coming.
• From late summer, cut old sprawling branches back to the younger side growth.