Osteospermum Growing Guide

Dimorphotheca ecklonis

Osteospermum

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Well-drained soil of average fertility.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Limited. The varieties sold as bedding plants can tolerate light frosts, but are meant to be grown as summer annuals.

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.

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.

Spacing

Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)

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 Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

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.

Harvesting

When cut as soon as they open, osteospermum make good cut flowers.

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.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Osteospermum