The Namaqualand daisy is regarded by many to be a pioneer on disturbed soil. The Namaqualand daisies need full sun to open and they always face the sun. Despite not being known for having a fragrance, some species in the genus possesses a fresh scent.
Dimorphotheca sinuata is an upright to sprawling annual that grows up to 300 mm tall. The leaves are slender, oblanceolate, light green when mature, reaching up to 80 mm long, with shallowly lobed or toothed margins. Larger indented narrow leaves are present close to the base of the plant. The stems are reddish and are often covered by the masses of leaves around them.
The remarkably large flowerheads are orange or yellow to beige and have orange or yellow centres, depending on the locality. Around the centre at the bottom of the ray florets is a narrow, greenish purple ring. The flowerheads are deeply cup-shaped, up to 80 mm across and are borne singly at the tip of a branch. The flowering time is mainly from mid-winter to mid-spring (August to October).
They are easily grown from seeds. In mild, winter-rainfall areas they may be sown in late autumn or early winter (April–May). They can be sown directly in prepared beds, on a calm day when the wind will not blow the papery seeds away. For best results, prepare the beds with compost and remove clods and stones to make a fine bed. They also grow very well in poor, sandy soils. Sow thickly and rake lightly to cover the seeds to prevent them being blown or washed away. Keep beds moist to trigger germination. Seeds take 4 to 10 days to germinate. Seedlings can be thinned or pricked out when they are about 5 cm tall. Young plants must also be kept moist until they reach the height of about 10 cm. They take approximately 3 months to flower. Seed is widely available in nurseries and supermarkets in South Africa. Selected forms of Namaqualand daisies are available for cultivation in a variety of shades, such as orange, cream, yellow and salmon.
Namaqualand daisies are one of the loveliest garden plants and will bring colour to any garden. They are useful for rock gardens, dry banks and the front row of borders. They are, however, not good for cut flowers as they close on cloudy days and remain closed indoors.
Minimum of 30 seeds per pack
All seeds are tested and grown on our farm in Malawi and our growing area in South Africa. Please check conditions in your area for the type of seed to be grown. Growth rates and germination times are dependent on many factors such as soil conditions, rainfall/watering patterns, climate, and many more.
Growth and harvest can be affected by these conditions. Please note that certain countries require specific permission to grow certain plants or ban their growth completely. Please check your local regulations before purchasing products.
We will not be held responsible for products purchased that are not allowed in your country/province.
