First time I bought a Gazania Sunburst for my garden. Looks really great, and seems to like direct sunlight also! I've bought it to collect seeds - However some people say that the plants which I'll grow from it's seeds, will not always be of the same color. So is this true I wonder? In either case, it sure is a very good looking plant. And bees really have a liking for it too! ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
That is a beautiful bloom. Gazania 'Sunburst' is a cultivar and cultivars don't always produce an exact copy of themselves from seed. Cross pollination with plants in your garden or the surrounding area could cause a change in color or growth and recessive genes in the cultivar itself can cause a change.
One more amazing thing about this is that the flower closes up before sunset, but then re-opens after sunrise. And on cloudy days it stays closed. So during the day when I move it into the shade, then this Gazinai, (even in daytime), closes up again... Somehow reminds me of the Triffid (fictional plant from the novel The Day of the Triffids). Anyway it really likes to be in direct sunlight, so that's where I'll now keep it. I guess this makes it a one very sturdy plant, perfect for my harsh environment, where the sun is always scorching hot! Also, I read up on the web that it can even tolerate poor soil conditions, and is also somewhat drought resistant too! Plus it is not much bothered by salty sea air either - So that's one big advantage for me! And yes, in my area it is said to be a perennial plant (flowering for the entire year). While in Europe and US it behaves like an annual... It is actually a native plant of South Africa, and also grows naturally in Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, and Swaziland. Other places where it also does very well are Australia, New Zealand, and California (which is what I've read up online).
OK, here is the Gazania Sunburst, as it opens up in the morning! Gazania Sunburst opening up 1 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gazania Sunburst opening up 2 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gazania Sunburst opening up 3 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gazania Sunburst opening up 4 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gazania Sunburst opening up 5 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gazania Sunburst opening up 6 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Gazania Sunburst opening up 7 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
S H- Beautiful, colorful series of photos!! I love Gazanias, they really do well here for me too. Your flowers bring a smile to my cold little face today!
Gorgeous! I've tried to grow them as annuals, but the summer's been too cold. I'll try again because I really like them.
I like the time-lapse photography of the flowers opening. Its really cool and they are very beautiful.
It really IS like a sunburst! They are great pics and that final one is really a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day! I'm going to think about some for my hot spots this summer. Isn't it amazing how sensitive to the sun the blossoms are?
Well, thank you all for liking my effort. I did so only because I knew most people over here at this forum were feeling gloomy because of so much snow in their areas. So I decided to cheer everyone up a bit!
Ooh I really love growing Gazanias too. THey keep me sane in an otherwise 'dull' and crazy world. Their wonderful color never ceases to brighten my day. Yours are growing very well S-H.