Osteospermum

I’m normally not that crazy about daisies but I’ve grown to love Osteospermum or Cape Daisies for their bright and cheerful look and drought-resistance. They come in many colors and shapes with either simple or spooned petals, some spread out over the ground, some grow like little shrubs, and they are more or less hardy.

Osteospermum fruticosum

In the fall of 2022 I bought one small plant of Osteospermum fruticosum album from Pepinière Filippi in Mèze. Since then it rapidly formed two square meters of ground cover that stayed green throughout summer. It is pretty drought-resistant with a “code de secheresse” of 4 of 6. According to Filippi it should bloom January through May, in my garden it blooms profusely March through June, with occasional single flowers appearing throughout July – as long as it doesn’t get to be too hot/dry.

It is also supposedly hardy to -6℃. However, after a few -4 degree nights in January this year, much of it had died. In March I cut back the dead branches and replanted some shoots here and there without giving them any care besides a spot of water to start out with. They rooted well and are already growing and blooming profusely. Some parts of the original plant also have grown back so things are looking well 🙂

Osteospermum ecklonis

In the spring of 2023 I also ordered five tiny plants of Osteospermum ecklonis Flower Power Spider Purple for its pretty purple color and weirdly spooned petals. All plants survived the first very hard summer and formed small bushes with lots of purple flower heads from March through June with occasional flowers in July. In the second year however the petals came back much narrower and less spooned than before.

It is supposedly hardy to -4℃. After a few -4 degree nights in January 2025, almost all of them died. One or two have grown new shoots/leaves from the root stock but so far no flowers.

Both types of Osteospermum like a sunny spot and light, well-drained soil.