Year of the Gerbera Daisy

It’s the fifth most used cut flower in the world, comes in single, semi double, double and spider type flowers and is the 2013 Flower of the Year.  Did you guess? It’s Gerbera Daisy.

It’s no surprise that this popular cut flower has moved into the garden. Plant gerbera daisies in full sun or morning sun locations.

Grow these in moist, well-drained slightly acidic soil. Watch for leaf yellowing, chlorosis, in high pH soils and black spots on the leaves in very acidic soils. If either extreme is a problem, consider growing these in a container.

Use a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer, like Milorganite, in the soil at planting and if needed a second application mid-season. You reduce your work load and won’t have to worry about interfering with flowering or fertilizer burn.

Increase bloom by thinning out large leaves that prevent light from reaching the center of the plant.  The more light the growing point receives the more flowers that will be produced.

A bit more information:  The National Garden Bureau plants of the year are selected by representatives of the horticulture industry.  Each year they select one flower, one vegetable and one perennial to be showcased.  Featured plants are chosen for their popularity, ease of growing, adaptability, diversity and versatility.  For more information, click here.

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ph flowers-ornamental-grasses gerbera-daisy

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