in brief:

Osteospermum

(Dimorphotheca)

Evergreen perennial, semi-woody. Greyish lanceolate leaves, daisy-like flowers. Flowers from late spring to autumn.

History

Most originally came from South Africa.

Varieties

These include: O. barberae (Cape Marguerite), downy leaves, lilac pink flowers; O. compactum, deep pink; O. ecklonis, white petals with blue centres and undersides; O. 'Blue Streak', upright habit, white petals with slate-blue centres; O. 'Cannington Roy', clump-forming, large pink flowers, grey leaves; O. 'Nairobi Purple', deep purple-red flowers, green leaves; O. 'Buttermilk', pale yellow petals shading to white with dark centres.

Where to grow

It forms big banks of flowers that trail pleasantly over walls. Grows well on seafronts.

Cultivation

Osteospermum thrives in warm, sunny locations with well-drained soil. Trim back in autumn, if necessary

Advantages

It provides lots of colour with minimum effort. It's useful for covering banks or filling abandoned rockeries.

Problems

It can get a bit untidy. Not always hardy.

Propagation

Take non-flowering cuttings, in mid-summer.