Osteospermum is delicate flower, By appearance resembling a chamomile. Other common names include Cape Daisy and African Daisy. The plant belongs to the Astrov family. The flower was brought to Europe from Africa.

It is distinguished by its long flowering time, ease of cultivation and care. Characteristic is the presence of high decorative qualities. Widely used to decorate terraces, balconies and loggias. Found in many flower beds and flower beds.

Description of the external characteristics of the flower

The plant has the shape of a branched bush with dense foliage. There are a large number of basket flowers on hard straight stems. It can reach a height of up to 25-30 cm, some species – up to 80 cm.

On average, the diameter of the inflorescence of osteosperm flowers is about 5 cm, in some varieties it is 8-9 cm.

Flowering begins in June and lasts until the first frost in September. Osteospermum is unpretentious and can be easily grown at home. In the center of the inflorescences there are tubular, sterile flowers, and at the edges there are ligulate flowers. The buds bloom only in sunny weather, protecting the pollen from moisture during rain. The flower pleases bright colors for about 5 days, and after it fades, new baskets appear in its place. Common colors range from dark purple to bright orange, pink and white flowers. There are blue and purple species. The middle may have a blue color interspersed with orange-red dots.

The bright green succulent leaves have a dense structure. They have a characteristic unpleasant smell, which only intensifies when the protective shell is damaged.

Main plant varieties

There are about 70 types of annual and perennial osteospermum. Among the most popular and widespread species among breeders is Eklona or Eklonis. The plant has a massive branched stem and leaves with jagged edges. It is thermophilic and does not tolerate the onset of cold weather.

Based on it, a considerable number of hybrid varieties. Among them are:

• "Silver Sparkler."

The inflorescences are pure white, the leaves are green with white spots.

• "Sky and Ice". The color of the petals is white with a characteristic blue edging;
• "Buttermilk." The flowers are pale yellow;

• "Bambe." White flowers turn purple over time;
• "Volta".

Young inflorescences of a lilac-pink hue become white as they develop.

• "Congo". Features rich pink-violet flowers;
• "Cream Symphony" Petals are lemon-colored with a narrow purple stripe at the base;
• "Zulu." The color of the inflorescences is light yellow.

They are in particular demand among breeders low-growing varieties plants. Their compact size allows you to grow flowers in small decorative containers.

Particularly popular are “Salmon”, “Peshn”, “Gnome”, “Pink Lace” and “Akilah”. Early flowering species 'Sunny', 'Springstar' and 'Cap Daisy' with various rich colors able to please lush flowering immediately with the onset of warmth.

In addition to Eklona, ​​osteospermum pleasant is often used. The variety is slightly winter-hardy. The petals may have different colors on both sides. Among its hybrids:

• "Buttermilk". Different pale yellow flowers, bronze below;

Buttermilk grows up to 45 cm

• "Sparkler". Has white flowers on top and blue with reverse side. It reaches a height of no more than 25-30 cm. The leaves are light green, edged with a golden-cream stripe;
• "Lady Leitrim." White inflorescences with special pink markings.

Lady Leitrim grows no more than 30 cm in height.

The color shades of the species can vary from white to purple. They decorate lawns, many flower beds and garden beds.

Reproduction methods

The plant is unpretentious, but has its own characteristics of cultivation and reproduction. It loves fertile, loose soil. Grows well in sunny conditions open areas. Osteospermum is propagated in two ways: by sowing seeds and cuttings. The first option is easier and gives good result, the second – allows you to preserve the characteristics of the variety. But when to plant Marigold seedlings, it will help you figure it out.

Germination of seedlings from seeds

For effective germination, it is enough to deepen the planting material into the soil no more than 0.5-1.5 cm. The container is not covered with film, but simply moved to a warm, bright place. In apartments and houses this can be an ordinary window sill. It is important to monitor the constant humidity of the substrate. You need to water the seeds every 2-3 days with settled warm water.

The preparation of seedlings begins in mid-March, and by April it is fully germinated.

Plant picking is done after 3-4 leaves have formed on the young stems.

Shoots are planted in individual cups. This approach further facilitates the process of transplanting plants into open ground. If the flower will be grown on the balcony, you can immediately place it in a pot of the required size.

A comfortable temperature for the growth and active development of seedlings is 10-15 degrees. Planting in open soil is carried out in early May. By the end of the month, if the germination time is strictly observed, the young shoots will bloom. In 2-3 months the plant turns into a profusely flowering bush. In autumn it can be divided into several shoots, forming new plants. For the winter, osteospermum needs to be dug up and moved indoors. How are flowers grown? Pansies, can be read at .

Propagation by cuttings

To propagate by cuttings, they must be prepared in advance in January-February. For cutting, use a stationery knife with a sharp blade. Planting material extracted from the top of the plant, cutting it to 5-7 cm. Lower leaves trimmed. To allow root shoots to appear, the cuttings are placed in water and left in it for about a month.

Afterwards they are placed in pots with prepared soil made from earth, sand and humus. Cuttings are planted in open ground in mid-May, after the soil has completely warmed up. There should be about 20-30 cm between seedlings. Rooting occurs at a temperature not lower than 20 degrees.

The landing site can be either sunny or slightly shaded.

Plant care

Proper care can provide abundant and long flowering plants. It is worth preparing the soil in advance for growing in containers. To do this, use a mixture of sand, turf and earth. Osteospermum tolerates bad weather and temperature fluctuations well, and does not tolerate frost. It is wind resistant.

The plant is often combined with other flowers that are more hardy and tall. It gets along well with peonies, tulips, daffodils, irises and roses.

Immediately after planting, it needs to be provided with regular moderate watering. After rooting, the amount of water can be reduced. It is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out, but it should not be over-watered. During the formation of buds mineral fertilizers are entered every week.

Pinching will allow you to get lush bushes with dense foliage and branches. The procedure is carried out twice as necessary. Timely pruning of faded inflorescences allows you to extend the flowering period.

You can collect seeds for further propagation as early as August. Fruits appear on the stems, which can be used if they darken. Unripe boxes are placed in places with good solar lighting for their full maturation. It is advisable to choose early flowering bushes with largest diameter inflorescences.

Winter storage

With the onset of cold weather southern plant may die. To preserve the variety, cuttings or simply replanting the bush are used. Osteospermum is placed in a spacious pot and transferred into the house. It is grown all winter as a houseplant.

Video

For more details on growing and caring for osteospetmum flowers, see the video below.

Disease and pest control

Osteospermum is resistant to various diseases, does not attract pests. When maintaining a flower, there is practically no need to worry about its additional protection. He will tell you about growing aquilegia from seeds.

Rarely, a plant can be affected by aphids, but they are easily removed available means in specialized stores.

Excessive soil moisture and planting in dark or too shaded places can lead to the death of the bush. This causes rotting of the root system. It is no longer possible to save the plant.

Osteospermum is still a rare plant in gardens Middle zone, but thanks to its unpretentiousness and long flowering Growing this crop is gaining popularity among amateur gardeners.

Care is also not difficult, you just need to carefully study the needs of the flower.

Origin and description

In its homeland - South Africa and the Arabian Peninsula - osteospermum is represented by more than 70 species. There it is a perennial plant that retains its foliage all year round.

Depending on the type, osteospermum can look like a herbaceous perennial or shrub. Height ranges from 10 to 100 centimeters. The flowering of this plant is very long; in our latitudes it begins to bloom in June and ends only just before the onset of frost.

The flowers are multi-colored daisies, the palette of which varies from white to purple and from yellow to red. The size of the flower, depending on the type and variety, can be 3-8 centimeters.

The only disadvantage of this plant when grown in a temperate zone is that its flowers are open only in sunny weather, thus this flower protects its pollen.

Only a few species of this plant are suitable for use in decorative floriculture:

1. Osteospermum Eklona, ​​it is called the Cape daisy, named after the area where it grows. This species can grow up to 1 meter and in natural conditions is a shrub. In Russia, it is grown exclusively as an annual plant.
2. Osteospermum is noticeable, in appearance it is not very different from the previous one, with the only difference being that its height is smaller and it is more resistant to low temperatures. Therefore, in the southern regions of the country, where the temperature does not drop below -10 degrees, it can winter in open ground.

Reproduction

The most common method of propagation is by seed. Currently in flower shops you can meet large selection varieties of this plant.

In order for osteospermum to begin flowering already in June, you need to plant it as seedlings in March or early April.

The seeds of the plant are quite large, so when planting they need to be lightly sprinkled with soil. In order to get healthy shoots, you do not need to resort to any conditions other than keeping the substrate in the seedlings moist.

The first shoots will appear in a week, since they grow quite quickly, at least one pick will be needed before planting permanent place. Seeds can be collected independently from flowering plants, which produce them in large quantities.

In warm areas, the seeds, falling off, give abundant self-sowing next spring, which is used for further cultivation in flower beds.

Important to know: when propagating from seeds collected in the garden, you need to remember that the likelihood that similar specimens will grow from them is low, especially in relation to double varieties.

You can also propagate osteospermum by cuttings, but for this you will need to keep the mother plant in a frost-free room, or transplant it into a pot in the fall and keep it on the windowsill as a houseplant, but this method is only convenient for low-growing varieties.

Young shoots that have not yet formed flowers are taken for cuttings. They take root in loose substrate quite quickly and further care care for them is the same as for seedlings grown from seeds.

Location and soil

In order for the osteospermum to bloom magnificently, it needs to be allocated the sunniest place, or at least an openwork shade.

One of the positive qualities of this plant is that it can grow in the very sun without compromising the decorativeness and color of the flowers.

Almost any soil is suitable, except clayey ones, because the moisture permeability of the soil on which it grows is important for osteospermum.

Please note: if the shadow is dense, the flowers will begin to become smaller, and terry varieties will become common. In addition, in deep shade, the flowers will often be closed.

It is also desirable that the soils are not too fertile, otherwise the plant will grow green mass to the detriment of flowering.

Watering and fertilizing

Osteospermum is a fairly drought-resistant plant and can survive without watering for quite a long time, but at the same time the flowers begin to become smaller and their number decreases. Therefore, in hot weather it needs to be watered about once a week.

Feed osteospermum several times a season with complex ones, diluting them in the dosage indicated on the package.

When applying fertilizers, you need to adhere to the rule that it is better to underfeed than to overfeed. Because osteospermum responds to excessive amounts of fertilizer with violent growth to the detriment of flowering, for the same reason soils that are not too oily are chosen for planting.

Care

Other plant care includes the following activities:

• weeding and weed removal;
• loosening the soil;
• removing faded stems.

All these measures allow you to prolong flowering until frost.

Gardener's advice: if the plant is grown in the southern region and has wintered in open ground, then care begins with almost complete cutting of the stems in the spring.

If the plant is planned to be preserved until next spring, then it must be dug up before frost begins, otherwise the above-ground part will be damaged.

Watch how osteospermum grows in the following video:

The specific name consists of words from two languages: the Greek osteon, “bones,” and the Latin spermum, “seeds,” which quite accurately describes the type of seed. The plant is often called Cape daisy, or African daisy. For the bright blue color of the tubular flowers in the center of the inflorescences of some varieties, Osteospermum was nicknamed Blue-Eyed Daisy.

Due to their external similarity, certain types of Osteospermum are often confused with its close “relative”,. Significant difference of these plants is that only annual species are classified as Dimorphotheca, while Osteospermum are perennials.

In nature, Osteospermum grows up to 1 m in height. Stems are erect or creeping, densely leafy with sessile leaves.

The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, depending on the type, light, dark green or variegated with pronounced serrations. The branches are semi-lignified, very strong.

The buds are formed in the axils of the leaves. Numerous basket-inflorescences come in white-blue, lilac, violet, blue, red, orange, yellow, pink flowers. The flowers are simple or double, anemone-shaped. They are quite large, from 5 to 8 cm in diameter.

An interesting feature of the Osteospermum inflorescence is that the tubular flowers in its middle are asexual. Seeds are produced by ligulate flowers located along the edges.

Bicolor varieties of Osteospermum are very popular among Russian gardeners. Bicolor petals do not fade under the bright rays of the sun and are not damaged by heavy rains. The flowers of some species change color slightly as they fade. When the petals fly off, a core remains, surrounded by long, large seeds.

Specimens with spoon-shaped reed petals are particularly decorative. This shape of the petals gives Osteospermums a “cosmic” appearance.

Garden Osteospermums bloom in June-July. Flowering continues until lasting frosts. IN winter garden, in a greenhouse or indoors, it can be continuous, from May to December. A short-term drop in temperature to -5°C is not capable of causing significant damage to the buds.

Growing

In cold areas with a highly continental climate, for example, in Siberia and the Urals, Osteospermums are grown as annuals. In warm countries they are also cultivated as perennials. garden plants. Blooming Osteospermums look great in group flower planting, mixborders. They are very aesthetically pleasing in containers, hanging baskets, on balconies or terraces.

Osteospermum prefers sunny, warm places. Suitable for him poor soil. Fertilize once every 7–10 days, alternating complex fertilizers with organic ones.

Regular watering is required as the soil dries out. Excess moisture can lead to rotting of the roots. When there is severe drought, the plant goes into hibernation, stopping the formation of buds. After watering, Osteospermum comes to life and continues the growing season.

The resting period of Osteospermum lasts from December to March. During dormancy, it is necessary to provide the plant with a decrease in temperature, a reduction in daylight hours and a decrease in watering. Ideal place for wintering there will be a cool northern window sill.

Outdoor Osteospermums overwinter best indoors, at a temperature of +15–17°C. Before the onset of frost, you can dig up garden Osteospermum or bring in a pot of indoor plant from the balcony to the room. The mother specimen is preserved in this way for further cuttings.

Diseases and pests

The plant has strong natural immunity and is weakly affected by diseases and pests.

Reproduction

Osteospermum propagates by seeds and cuttings. The seed method is widespread, since the germination rate of the seed is high. Seeds are sown in late March or early April. You can sow them directly into pots, bypassing the picking stage to avoid possible damage to the roots.

The container with seeds is placed in a well-lit place and covered with glass. At a temperature of +22–24°C, seedlings appear already on the eighth to tenth day. Young plants bloom in the same season, after 30–45 days.

Osteospermum is cut from March to August. Cuttings take root well in indoor greenhouses. To be on the safe side, professional rooting agents are used, in which the cuttings are dipped before planting.

First steps after purchase

Osteospermum is kept in a shady and cool place for several days. If the plant has taken root normally, it is transplanted to a permanent place.

Secrets of success

One of the secrets proper care behind Osteospermum - heavy pruning before wintering. In summer, the plant is pruned several times a season. The tops of the shoots must be pinched so that the bushes grow more compact and lush.

Trimmed shoots are used for propagation. During a season, you can get quite a lot of daughter plants without reducing the decorative value of the original specimen.

Fading Osteospermum inflorescences should be promptly removed. This will prolong flowering and make it more lush. Moderate exposure to cold, especially in spring, can stimulate flowering.

Possible difficulties

Root rotting.

Reasons:

1. waterlogging.
2. fungal damage.

Pale foliage.

Reasons:

1. little sunlight.
2. lack of nutrients.

Lack of flowering.

Reasons:

1. lack of sunlight.
2. nutritional deficiency.
3. too little watering.

Vita
Is Osteospermum a perennial or annual flower?

The bright bloom of osteospermum will not leave anyone indifferent. This native of South Africa is so similar to the beloved chamomile and echinacea, and also has rich palette inflorescences. Osteospermum is indeed a distant relative of chamomile and belongs to the same family Asteraceae. But how to properly cultivate this overseas beauty?

Osteospermum as a perennial

In its homeland, osteospermum is a perennial, evergreen. But even evergreen species need a period of rest. At this time, the flower needs to be provided with:

• low positive temperature (5-10°C);
• bright diffuse lighting at least 8-10 hours a day;
• rare watering once every 2-3 weeks, or as the earthen clod dries out.

An adult plant can also withstand light short-term frosts. Such conditions in open ground can only be provided in the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory, the Crimean Peninsula and certain regions of the Caucasus. Here osteospermum can be confidently grown as a perennial crop. In other regions, it is dug up in the fall, transferred to containers and stored until spring on balconies, in greenhouses and conservatories, the main thing is that the flower is provided with a low temperature.

Advice. Early spring You can take cuttings from the plant, then spring planting You will already have several copies of the flower.

Growing an annual crop

If it is not possible to store a perennial in cold weather, it is grown as an annual. There are two ways to sow seeds:

Advice. Osteospermum produces a large number of seeds, but when collecting, remember the laws of genetics: the second generation may have characteristics (color, shape of inflorescences) that differ from the mother plant.

So, it’s up to you to grow osteospermum as a perennial or annual crop. The plant is quite flexible and will easily adapt to the conditions of your region, in any case thanking you for your care with lush and long-lasting flowering.

Osteospermum in the garden: video