Osteospermum is a strange name for a beautiful flower, don't you think? Apparently it is named such because the seeds are very hard: osteo = bone; spermum = seed. Osteospermum jucundums are also known as African Daisies, which I think is a much nicer name. Anyway, while at the
RHS garden centre in Harlow Carr a few days ago, I bought five osteospermum plants which were on offer. I've stuck them in a largish container (which had held disastrous
ranunculus plants) and put them in a sunny spot at the top of the garden, next to the lovely buddleia, Buddleia davidii Nanho Blue. At least, it was a sunny spot for the last few weeks, until today. Today we have much rain and I am so thankful for it after many many days of very dry, hot, and sunny weather. Keeping the plants alive was getting to be a real chore, and tap water just isn't the same as rain, as rain puts nitrogen into the soil. You can almost see the plants sit up and beg for it.
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| Orange African Daisy / Osteospermum flower |
Osteospermum jucundums, or African Daisies, are tender perennials and will not tolerate the severe winters we get in the UK. If they are to be grown as perennials and not removed before winter like annuals, then they must be protected and overwintered indoors. They have a hardiness level of H3 in the UK, 9 in the USA.
See
Plant Hardiness Ratings.
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| Osteospermums in a container in a sunny spot |
Growing Osteospermum jucundums (RHS external link)
By the way, I now grow
Buddleia davidii Nanho Blue in the giant container that used to hold the
diseased and now deceased cherry tree,
Prunus avium Stella, Gisela 5
