Annuals & Biennials

Arctotis
African daisy

Height 1/2-2 ft (50-60 cm)
Planting distance 1 ft (30 cm)
Flowers midsummer to first frost
Ordinary garden soil
Open, sunny site
Half-hardy annual

Bold, brightly colored daisylike flowers and woolly silver-gray leaves make this a striking plant to grow in borders and containers. Though tempting to cut for flower arranging, the blooms last only a short while in water. In the garden, the flower heads tend to close in the afternoon or during dull, overcast weather, so position them where they will receive plenty of light - and can be appreciated in the morning. This plant is a good choice for southwestern gardeners since it tolerates a considerable degree of both heat and drought.

Popular species and cultivars
Arctotis venusta (sometimes sold as A. stoechadifolia or A. grandis) has large white to primsrose-yellow flowers with blue centers and pale lavender on the reverse (the petals' backsides). They appear from midsummer until the first frost. The plant grows up to 2 ft (60 cm) high. Hybrids come in brilliant shades of red, yellow, apricot, orange, carmine, cream, and white. They reach 1-2 ft (30-60 cm) high, making them popular for borders and beds. The long-stemmed flowers tend to last longer than the species in water.

Annuals
and
Biennials