Cape Daisy
Osteospermum (oss-tee-oh-SPUR-mum)
Synonym: African Daisy
This is one of the annuals I have been planting this week. This year as been funny since I have had more requests for annuals then ever before. It truly has been the year of the annual. I don’t mind because annuals always add a lot of color to the garden. I hope to take some more pictures of the different flowers I have been planting. Dahlias, Impatiens, Petunias, Marigolds, Salvia, Cleome and Begonias to name some of the species for this year.
Both of these are from the 'Crescendo' series. This 'Crescendo Orange' and the top flower is 'Crescendo Primrose'Cape Daisy is a nice annual for masses or containers. I like them since they aren’t too fussy and seem to give good color throughout the season. I found that they need full sun and well drained soil. If they start to slow down blooming some light shearing maybe in order. They benefit from deadheading (removing the spent flowers). These plants have been in full bloom since they came from the nursery. I once showed a picture I took of one of these flowers to a friend from California and he said, “Ugh, those are freeway daisies”. I just thought to myself you are lucky to have that beautiful a plant growing along the highway.
Here is a link to a website devoted to Osteospermum:
Osteospermum.com
There is 2 to 3 inches of rain expected for this area today. We could use some rain but not that much. I would like a day off but I have to get more plants and I have found that a lot of the wholesale nurseries are not too busy when it is raining.
