African Daisy

 The African Daisy is an annual ornamental herbaceous plant, belonging to the genus Dimorphotheca (Family Asteraceae) grows to two feet tall, as the name suggests comes from South Africa. It blooms in spring and continues until mid-summer, with its flowers, colors ranging from white or cream until the violet, can make beautiful bouquets and decorative arrangements. Its foliage tends to be gray-green color.

The best known varieties are: dimorphotheca integrifolia, dimorphotheca calendulacea dentata and Dimorphotheca Dimorphotheca aurantiaca. Among them are some with petals that vary in width throughout giving them star looks. Most closed overnight.

It reproduces by seeds that germinate in a week, need full sun and light soil, sandy, well-drained soil, tolerates a slight alkalinity of the soil. Irrigation is to moisten the substrate without actually drown, prefers moderate climate, if in very cold areas that will provide shelter indoors, does not withstand the wind, or by cuttings, which provides a cloning effect, yielding specimens with identical characteristics the mother plant, which does not happen with those born by seed (to do it cut a stem below a node leaf, put it in the ground and water without excess so it does not rot, do not expose to the sun until rooted ). After a month and can be transplanted to the final field is also suitable for growing in pots.

It is recommended to get the flowers that are wilting to promote the next bloom. It should make a light pruning in early spring and add fertilizer to irrigation water once a month. It is very tough, but when aphids decide to attack it will have to employ a solution of soapy water and spray her ground, then wash specifically the affected foliage. Slugs and snails tend to eat their sprouts tender so you should check assiduously the undersides of leaves time to control this pest, as the plant has no problem with soil salinity can put a fence around it with coarse salt to not be eaten.