How to Grow Gazania From Seed in Central Florida

Gazania plants provide color for gardens.

The gazania, also known as the treasure flower, is one of the easiest flowering perennials to grow in central Florida because it tolerates heat, sandy soil conditions and some salts in the soil. The plant is easy to grow from seed and is hardy in central Florida locations, since frost and freeze in this part of Florida are rare. Gardeners can start gazania seeds indoors for quick color in the spring in central Florida or simply scatter the seeds in a garden.

Instructions

Starting Indoors

1. Purchase gazania seeds at your local home and garden center. Most gazania seeds are hybrids, which means that the seeds the flowers produce may not be fertile or productive. Gazania flower seeds are sold in packets with just one color or in a variety of colors. The seeds should be planted indoors four to six weeks before transferring them to the garden. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the last freeze date for central Florida is generally the first week in March.

2. Fill the peat pots or other indoor planting containers with potting soil, lightly tamping it down with your fingers. Soak the peat pots in water to moisten the soil or sprinkle water over the containers if they do not absorb water.

3. Place several seeds in each pot and cover with 1/4 inch of soil. Gently moisten the top of the soil, being careful to not disturb the seeds placed below the surface.

4. Place in a sunny location. Check the soil moisture frequently, and moisten when the soil dries out. It takes gazania seeds two to three weeks to germinate at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Transplant the gazania in your garden when the soil warms in full sun. Gazania flowers tolerate the heat well and grow easily in sandy soil, although amending the soil with peat or topsoil may encourage more growth. Do not overwater the gazanias, since they adapt well to dry conditions.

Starting Outside

1. Loosen the top layers of the soil and crumble any large clods. Plant the seeds in rows that are 18 inches apart and 1/4-inch deep.

2. Water the garden to moisten the soil. After the water drains but the soil is still damp, plant the seeds evenly in rows. Keep the soil evenly moist. Water less frequently after the seedlings mature since gazanias prefer dry, well-drained conditions over soggy or moist soil.

3. Thin the rows once the seedlings develop their true leaves, leaving them 8 to 10 inches apart. Remove the smallest seedlings to give the stronger plants room to grow.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also grow gazanias in containers in sunny locations.

References

• TCPalm: Plant Profile: Gazania Daisy a Gardener's Treasure
• Victory Seeds: Average First and Last Frost Dates for Florida
• 2BSeeds: Gazania Seeds