African Daisy
Osteospermum ecklonis
Family: Asteraceae · Also called Osteospermum, Cape Daisy, Blue-Eyed Daisy, Osteospermum ecklonis
Green & Fresh · Spring–Autumn bloomer
African daisies bring South African sunshine to gardens worldwide, bold, perfectly formed daisy flowers in saturated purples, pinks, oranges, and whites with distinctive dark blue-purple central discs. They bloom prolifically in cool-to-warm conditions and close each evening, only to re-open fresh each morning facing the sun.
cheerfulness, innocence, purity
In the Victorian language of flowers, african daisy means “Cheerful innocence”. Osteospermum has become one of the world's most commercially important bedding plants in the last 30 years, modern breeding has produced an extraordinary color range from white through purple, pink, orange, and yellow, often with contrasting dark 'spoon-shaped' disc florets or bicolor rays. It's a South African success story in global horticulture.
Did You Know?
Some African daisy cultivars have extraordinary 'spoon-shaped' petals, pinched in the middle to create a unique tubular-tipped form that looks like each petal holds a tiny drop of color. This mutation occurred naturally in wild populations and has been stabilized by breeders into popular commercial varieties.
Coastal scrubland, rocky slopes, and grasslands of the Cape region
African Daisy is native to South Africa. It naturally grows in coastal scrubland, rocky slopes, and grasslands of the cape region.
Scent Profile
“A faint green, slightly aromatic note from the foliage, the flowers themselves are unscented. African daisies are purely visual flowers that close at night and in cloudy weather.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameOsteospermum ecklonis
- FamilyAsteraceae
- Native ToSouth Africa
- Bloom SeasonSpring–Autumn
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Osteospermum has become one of the world's most commercially important bedding plants in the last 30 years, modern breeding has produced an extraordinary color range from white through purple, pink, orange, and yellow, often with contrasting dark 'spoon-shaped' disc florets or bicolor rays. It's a South African success story in global horticulture.