How to Sow African Daisies for Dazzling Flowers and Blooms in the Garden

African Daisy seed varieties

Seed is sold under the names African Daisy, Cape Daisy, Namaqualand Daisy or Dimorphotheca Hybrids Mix. There are three varieties - the traditional yellow and orange varieties, a single white variety, and the 'Harlequin' selection of daisies with pastel blooms.

The Harlequin mix is predominantly pale yellow with a hint of peach. Many of the flowers are bi-colour and have pale yellow centres with peach tips. Others have dark yellow centres and orange edges. Harlequin daisies also have a more compact leaf growth and are therefore able to produce small patches of colour in townhouse gardens.

African Daisy seeds and sticks

If you have ever bought a packet of orange and yellow African or Namaqualand Daisy seed, you will probably have noticed that there were a number of little sticks amongst the oval cream seeds. What did you do with the sticks? And didn't it cross your mind that the seed companies were a bit slack about removing tiny, dirty looking sticks in the seed before packaging?

Remember, never throw the 'sticks' out! A single daisy plant produces two different types of seed - the well known 'flake' seed (a light, disk-shaped cream seed) and a dry or 'stick' seed. Usually both types of seed are mixed in packets and each type will germinate and produce the same species. Occasionally, seedsmen will package 'flake' and 'stick' seeds separately. 'Stick' seeds are good value and easy to sow -'Flake' seeds tend to blow away more easily.

How to sow African Daisies

Seed can be sown directly into the garden from late summer until mid-autumn for a mass of blooms during late winter and early spring, depending on when you sow.

Start by choosing a sunny flower bed with well drained soil. Prepare the soil by loosening it to a fork's depth and taking care to remove all stones and weeds. Rake the bed level and water thoroughly. It is important to water the ground before you sow to avoid disturbing the seed or washing it away. A wet bed also makes it easier for the light seed to stick to the surface of the soil.

Sprinkle the seeds evenly across the flower bed, making sure there are no bare patches. Roll the bed with a piece of plastic piping to eliminate air spaces between the soil and seed which could be fatal to the tender emerging radicle. If it is not possible to roll the area, then cover the seed with a light sprinkling of soil and rake the area.

Watering and Thinning

Namaqualand daisies grow very quickly and a small seedling should be visible within two weeks. If there is no rain, water the seedlings once weekly until they are established. The plants can be thinned out to 20cm. apart, although a denser planting has not shown any adverse effects as the stronger plants dominate and shade out competition.