Gerbera daisies are so vividly colored that they can sometimes make you wonder if they're real. Native to South Africa, the Gerbera flower is in the Aster family, alongside sunflowers (Asteraceae)-however, the gerbera daisies we see today are a result of hybridization techniques. Best planted in spring after all chances of frost have passed, gerbera daisies can be grown from seed in both containers and garden beds. They'll establish themselves at a moderate pace, delivering their first flowers within 14 to 18 weeks and continuing to bloom throughout the summer. The large flower heads of these daisies have ray-like petals around a center disk of tiny green or black flowers. There are 4-different classes of gerbera daisies: a single flower, semi-double flower, double flowers, and spider flowers. Each class delineates the number, position, and type of petals. The leaves of the plant are lobed or pinnate and often toothed. Gerbera daisies thrive best under full sun but do not like intense heat. If you live in a climate that experiences particularly hot summers (or afternoons, for that matter), try to plant your gerbera daisies somewhere that boasts afternoon shade. Gerbera daisies need regular watering, around 1 in. per week. Water only when the soil has dried an inch or 2-below the surface. These flowers may also need more frequent watering when first getting established in your landscape, as well as during hot, dry spells.
