How to Grow African Daisy (Dimorphotheca)

Also called cape marigold or star-of-the-veldt, this sunny, long-blooming daisy-like annual (lasts just one year) thrives in full sun in regions with a cool growing season and dry, well-drained soil similar to that found in its native South Africa. The plants grow about a foot high atop long, wiry stems.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Garden Hoses
• Garden Spades
• Garden Trowels
• Seeds

1. Look for established seedlings, which are sold at some nurseries in the spring. If you can't find them, you'll have to buy seeds.
2. Choose a color. African daisy comes in nearly every color, but blue with strongly contrasting 'eyes,' or centers, are popular.
3. Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your region's last frost date.
4. Plant seedlings outdoors 8 to 10 inches apart after the last frost. Place them in well-drained soil such as that found in containers, a rock garden, a raised bed or slope. Sandy soil is excellent.
5. Keep soil moist but avoid wetting leaves since they're prone to fungal disease.
6. Keep spent flowers pinched off once the plant starts blooming to promote further bloom.
7. Pull the plant out of the garden after the first frost.

Tips & Warnings

• African daisy is an annual in most parts of the country and a perennial (one that will return year after year) in Zones 9-10 of the U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
• Starting African daisy from seed is a little tricky. It's a job recommended for those with a some previous seed-starting experience.

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