Greetings, fellow sun-seekers. We are the African Daisies, known to you as Osteospermum. Hailing from the sun-drenched landscapes of South Africa, we thrive in conditions that remind us of home. To help us flourish in your garden, we ask you to understand our fundamental needs. Our success in your care depends on a few key elements: abundant light, well-drained soil, and mindful maintenance.
First and foremost, we are children of the sun. We require a full sun location, meaning at least six to eight hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily. Without it, our stems become weak and leggy as we stretch desperately for light, and our flower production will be sparse. Our blooms are heliotropic, often following the sun's path across the sky, but many of our newer cultivars have been bred to remain open even on cloudy days. As for our foundation, excellent drainage is non-negotiable. We despise having our roots sit in waterlogged soil; it quickly leads to root rot, from which we may not recover. A sandy or loamy soil that is moderately fertile is ideal. If your garden soil is heavy clay, please amend it generously with compost or grit to create the loose, airy environment we crave.
Our relationship with water is one of moderation. Once established, we are remarkably drought-tolerant, a trait inherited from our native lands. We prefer a deep, thorough watering when the top inch of soil feels dry, which encourages our roots to grow deep and strong. However, you must allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings. Shallow, frequent sprinklings make us vulnerable and weak. When it comes to nourishment, we are not heavy feeders. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil at planting time will support our initial growth. During our main blooming period, a monthly drink of a water-soluble fertilizer formulated for flowering plants can encourage a more spectacular display. But please, do not overfeed us, as this will promote foliage at the expense of our beautiful flowers.
Our primary goal is to produce flowers, and we need your help to keep the show going. The practice you call "deadheading" is essential for us. By gently pinching or cutting away spent blooms, you prevent us from diverting energy into seed production. This signals us to produce more buds, extending our flowering season from spring often right through to the first autumn frost. Furthermore, if we begin to look a bit tired or leggy in the peak of summer, do not hesitate to give us a light trim, cutting back by about one-third. This rejuvenates us, promotes bushier growth, and triggers a fresh, vibrant flush of flowers.
It is important to understand our limitations regarding temperature. We thrive in the cool to warm conditions of spring and early summer. While we love the sun, intense, prolonged heat can cause us to pause our flowering. In very hot climates, we may appreciate a little afternoon shade. Our most critical vulnerability is to frost. We are tender perennials, and a hard freeze is fatal. In regions with cold winters, we are best treated as annuals, or you can try to protect our roots with a thick layer of mulch. Alternatively, you can take softwood cuttings in late summer to overwinter young plants indoors, ready to be planted out again when the danger of frost has passed.
