African daisies (Osteospermum) add bold color and charm to any garden. Learn how to plant, grow, and care for these vibrant, sun-loving flowers to enjoy brilliant blooms all season. African daisies (Osteospermum spp.) are pretty daisy-like flowers with vivid colors.

Understanding the Context

Learn to grow them in your garden. Osteospermum, commonly known as African daisy, Cape daisy, or blue-eyed daisy, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, which also includes sunflowers, daisies, and asters. These plants are native to South Africa and are prized for their attractive, daisy-like flowers. The flowers come in many colors from white to deep purple, with single or multi-colored centers and petals that can be double, fringed, or spoon-shaped.

Key Insights

A member of the daisy family (Asteraceae), osteospermum is a half-hardy perennial or subshrub most commonly grown as an annual. Osteospermum is an evergreen plant that grows up to 100 cm high. Bushes have erect stems, but there are species and creeping. The edging of the leaf blades is unevenly serrated. The flowers are similar to baskets, 5-10 cm in diameter.

Final Thoughts

They are lilac, pinkish, yellow, white, purple, blue or orange. With their cheerful, daisy-like blossoms, osteospermums were an instant hit. They create a lively display when planted on their own or with other cool-season plants, such as pansies. When osteospermums were first introduced, they were available in only a few colors, primarily white and peach. How to Grow and Care for Osteospermum - Better Homes & Gardens Relative newcomers to the American gardening scene, osteospermum plants have a handful of nicknames, including the African daisy, Cape daisy, and star of the veldt. It traces its history as an ornamental landscape plant to South Africa.

Now the “Cape” reference makes sense!