Nothing captures the spirit of spring quite like sun-loving daisies, with their simplicity and charm. For shade you can’t beat bedding impatiens.
The two daisies most associated with this time of year are the Cape daisy (Osteospermum) and Marguerite daisies (argyranthemum). They have the traditional daisy like flowers, single and double, and their range of colours seems to increase by the year.
Top performer
Osteospermum have overtaken all others as the top performing spring flower. They are short-lived perennials, which means that if last year’s plants are looking ragged, rather pull them out and replace them.
The hybrids, like Flowerpower 3D ‘Blue Steel’, Serenity ‘Sunshine Beauty,’ and Akila ‘Grand Canyon Mix’ are compact, showing off best when massed, or used as a border or even in containers. The flowers are strong and weather tolerant and make a flush in spring and again in autumn.
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Plants are drought tolerant requiring regular deep but infrequent watering.
Daisies with stamina
Argyranthemum ‘Madeira’ is the new prototype of the old- fashioned daisy bush. It grows into a medium-sized rounded bush (46cm high and wide) that holds its shape and doesn’t fall open or grow too big.
Argyranthemum ‘Lollies’ is even more naturally compact yet still a vigorous grower with a summer long flowering season. Available in delicious shades of ‘Berry Gummy’, ‘Buttermint’, ‘Marshmallow’, ‘Pink Pez’ and ‘White Chocolate’.
Argyranthemum does best in full sun and can also cope with hot afternoon sun. Water deeply and regularly and trim with hedge shears after flowering to bring on a new crop of flowers.
Daisies that bide their time
Bidens ‘Golden Empire’ is a new generation of Bidens with extra-large golden yellow daisy flowers on plants that are neatly upright. It is a fuss free garden flower, that doesn’t need dead heading and also does well in small and medium pots.
All Bidens varieties have smaller daisy like flowers on lower growing, compact plants. They are heat and drought tolerant, with a long flowering season, from spring into autumn and their slightly sweet scent attracts bees. Plant in fertile soil that drains well.
Bidens ‘Bee Meadow’ could be used as a groundcover because it has a spread of up to 55 cm. It produces an abundance of crisp white blooms with yellow centres and the vigorous plants quickly fill beds, hanging baskets and containers. Bees love its blooms.
Bidens ‘Blazing Star’ and ‘Blazing Ring of Fire‘ are the brightest of the bunch, guaranteed to add an explosion of colour to beds and containers. Pinching or cutting back the plant can make it denser and encourage new blooms.
‘Pretty in Pink’ produces flushes of pink daisies with distinctive purple stripes. It is fast growing and early blooming and grows nicely upright. Good for the garden and in pots.
Made for Shade
The mass of colour offered by bedding impatiens transforms shady areas of the garden. Best for bedding are the single flowering Impatiens walleriana ‘Beacon’ and the double flower Impatiens walleriana ‘Glimmer’.
Both are highly resistant to downy mildew and they perform like the Super Elfin’s of yesteryear, being fast growers that flower continuously from spring to autumn.
‘Beacon’ is neat and compact and plants should be spaced 15 to 20 cm apart for good air circulation. Plant them in compost enriched soil that drains well. Water regularly. Impatiens likes moist but not sodden or bone dry soil The more sunshine the plants get, the more water they need, with less in shadier areas. Feed with a liquid fertiliser for flowers once a month.
‘Glimmer’ is a real beauty with miniature rose-like blooms in pastel shades as well as glowing dark red, burgundy and hot pink. They are showy plants for containers and hanging baskets as well as for gardens.
Sunpatiens Compact is an interspecific impatiens that grows into a densely branched mounded plant covered with large flowers. It is more tolerant of sun, humidity, and even heavy rain. Plants in full sun should be watered daily in summer. If they flop because of lack of water, they bounce right back after watering. For more information visit www.ballstraathof.co.za
Article and images by Alice Coetzee.
