From our perspective, timing is everything. We, Osteospermum, are sun-worshippers at heart, hailing from lands with warm, mild climates. Our roots absolutely despise the cold and cannot handle frost. Therefore, the perfect window for you to introduce us to your garden is in the spring, but only after the last expected frost date has safely passed in your region. The soil must be workable and, most importantly, warm. Planting us too early in cold, soggy soil will shock our systems, stunting our growth and making us susceptible to rot. In most American gardens, this translates to a planting time from mid-April through May. For warmer zones (9-11), we can also be planted in the fall for winter and early spring color, as we will happily grow through the mild winters there.
Our requirements for a home are specific but simple. We demand a location that receives a full day of glorious sunshine—at least six to eight hours of direct light. While we can tolerate very light shade, our blossoms will not perform their beautiful daily opening and closing ritual to their full potential without ample sun. The soil must be exceptionally well-draining. We abhor "wet feet." Standing water around our roots is a death sentence, leading to rot. If your native soil is heavy clay, you must amend it generously with compost, peat moss, or perlite to create a light, airy, and free-draining environment. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal for us to access the nutrients we need.
Please handle us with care during this transition. If we have been living in a nursery pot, gently tease our roots apart if they have become pot-bound. This encourages them to spread outwards into their new home rather than continuing to grow in a circle. Dig a hole that is just as deep as our current root ball but twice as wide. This gives our young roots loose soil to expand into easily. Place us in the hole so that the top of our root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface. Backfill the hole with the amended soil, gently firming it around the base to eliminate large air pockets. Avoid planting us too deeply, as this can suffocate our crown.
Immediately after planting, provide us with a deep, thorough watering. This settles the soil around our roots and helps alleviate transplant shock. For the first few weeks, keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to help us establish our root system. Once we are established, we are remarkably drought-tolerant. A layer of light mulch, such as bark chips, around our base (but not touching our stems) is greatly appreciated. It helps conserve moisture, suppresses weeds that would compete with us for resources, and keeps our root zone cool.
To encourage a spectacular, long-lasting display of our daisy-like flowers, we welcome a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time. This provides a steady supply of nutrients. Throughout the growing season, you can "deadhead" us. This means removing the spent flowers by pinching them off. This signals to us that we should channel our energy into producing more blooms rather than setting seed. With this partnership of correct timing, a sunny home, and considerate care, we will reward your American garden with vibrant, prolific color from spring straight through until the first hard frost of autumn.
