Dimorphotheca
( dye - mor - foh - THEE - kuh )
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At-A-Glance InformationDimorphotheca, also known as African Daisy or Cape Marigold, is a genus of flowering annuals native to South Africa. Blooms provide winter and spring color to gardens and require full sun and regular water to perform well. They prefer climates with dry summers and warm winters, but can also be grown in cold-winter regions, where they will bloom in summertime. Flowers close up when not exposed to sunlight, reopening when the sun comes out again. They are great for parking strips, along roadways and as a filler amongst lower shrub plants.
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Dimorphotheca Species and Varietals
The genus Dimorphotheca is a member of the plant family Asteraceae, and includes about 20 species. The genus name is derived from the Greek words dis, morphe, and theka, which together mean 'two shaped receptacle', referring to the dimorphic fruits produced by plants in the genus. Dimorphotheca grows in zones 1-24, but performs best in areas with warm summertime temperatures. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Dimorphotheca cuneata (Rain Flower, White Bietou) This species is native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa, as well as Namibia and Botswana. These subshrubs reach about 40 inches tall and have dark green, narrow foliage that is fragrant when crushed. Flowers are white with yellow centers. These plants are widely grown as garden ornamentals throughout the world. |
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Dimorphotheca ecklonis (Cape Marguerite, African Daisy, Van Staden's River Daisy, Sundays River Daisy, White Daisy Bush, Blue-and-White Daisy Bush, Star of the Veldt) These perennial ornamentals are commonly cultivated as garden plants, and produce profuse shows of blooms of yellow, orange, purple, white, or pink flowers. These plants are considered invasive in some areas of the world (namely, Australia), so take care when planting them in your garden. These small shrubs reach between 8 and 24 inches tall at maturity. Bloom time is from spring to summer. |
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Dimorphotheca fruticosa (Osteospermum fruticosum) (Trailing African Daisy) These plants form small shrubs with stems that have a bit of a trailing habit to them. Flowers are commonly white, and foliage is green. This species is considered to be a weed in New Zealand, where it enjoys growing in coastal conditions. Trailing African Daisy is native to South Africa. |
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Dimorphotheca jucunda (Delightful African Daisy) This species is native to South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini, and is an introduced but thriving species on Tasmania and in Ireland. There are many cultivars of this species that have been developed over the years, including 'Blackthorn Seedling' and 'Langtrees'. |
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Dimorphotheca pluvialis (Dimorphotheca annua) (Ox-Eye Daisy, Cape Daisy, Rain Daisy, Cape Marigold, Weather Prophet, White African Daisy) These plants produce stems 4-16 inches tall. Flowers are yellow centered with white rays that are purple underneath. Variety 'Glistening White' is a dwarf cultivar with larger flowers than the species. These plants have somewhat naturalized in California. |
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Dimorphotheca sinuata (Dimorphotheca aurantiaca) (Glandular Cape Marigold, Namaqualand Daisy, Orange Namaqualand Daisy) These are very common African Daisies, and grow 4-12 inches tall. Yellow- or dark-centered flowers are orange with deep-violet bases. Varieties come in shades of yellow, light orange and white with contrasting-colored centers. Can be invasive, and have naturalized in the United States in California and Arizona and in Australia. |
Caring for Dimorphotheca
Dimorphotheca plants can be grown either from seed direct sown in the garden (or started indoors) or purchased as nursery specimens. They will reseed freely, spreading over time, and should be planted in a space in the garden where this tendency will not be an issue. African Daisies should be planted in a spot in the garden that receives full sun; ideally, they should receive between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day for best flowering. They like soil that is sandy and well-draining, with a moderate amount of fertility and a pH of between 5.0 and 5.7. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost and sand before installing flowers. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention.
Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. Mature plants are considered to be quite drought tolerant, though they do benefit from occasional waterings in summertime in areas with low rainfall. Each year in springtime, apply a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the planting area to improve soil structure, drainage, and nutrient load. This feeding should be sufficient to provide these flowers with enough nutrients to get through their growth and flowering seasons with ease. Pruning is not necessary, but if any foliage is becoming unsightly, it can be removed at any time during the growing season. Spent flowers can be removed to neaten up the look of plants and encourage more blooms to pop. If propagating these plants via seed, the flowering stalks will need to remain and seed heads will eventually mature, providing seeds for the next generation of plants.
Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. Mature plants are considered to be quite drought tolerant, though they do benefit from occasional waterings in summertime in areas with low rainfall. Each year in springtime, apply a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the planting area to improve soil structure, drainage, and nutrient load. This feeding should be sufficient to provide these flowers with enough nutrients to get through their growth and flowering seasons with ease. Pruning is not necessary, but if any foliage is becoming unsightly, it can be removed at any time during the growing season. Spent flowers can be removed to neaten up the look of plants and encourage more blooms to pop. If propagating these plants via seed, the flowering stalks will need to remain and seed heads will eventually mature, providing seeds for the next generation of plants.
Propagation
Dimorphotheca can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your African Daisy plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Dimorphotheca by Cutting
Propagating Dimorphotheca by Seed
Propagating Dimorphotheca by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new flower.
Propagating Dimorphotheca by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on African Daisy plants are pretty easy to find, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside, or they can be manually opened. Once seeds have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray on the soil surface and cover them with a light layer of soil. Water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7 to 21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
African Daisies produce seed heads packed with seeds.
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Dimorphotheca seeds.
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Problems and Pests
These flowers can be invasive, so make sure that they are planted in an area of the garden that can handle a good amount of reseeding, and that flowers do not escape the garden space. Dimorphotheca, or African Daisy, plants are typically resistant to most problems, but can have issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape if certain growing conditions aren't met:
- Leaf Hoppers
- Powdery Mildew
- Root Rot
Gallery
African Daisy are tough plants, able to handle even poor soils well.
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These plants freely reseed, and can quickly fill in large swaths of the garden.
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It is possible to grow these plants in containers.
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Videos
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How to grow African Daisies from seed.
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Learn about these interesting daisy flowers.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 190, Dimorphotheca
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