Gerbera Daisy

The History of the Gerbera Daisy

So we know the gerbera daisy was first discovered in 1884 near Barberton, South Africa, by a Scotsman by the name of Robert Jameson & German naturalist Traugott Gerber.

But what else!? We want to know it all!

We assume Jameson sent the plant to the Botanical Gardens in Cambridge, England. From there, the newly discovered gerberas made their way through England, eventually making their way to the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Beginning in about 1890 in England, Richard Irwin Lynch carried out breeding programs resulting in many improvements. With the help of these improvements, gerberas began their journey on the road to popularity, fame, and success.

Soon they were well known and well-loved throughout the Netherlands, where most modern breeding has occurred.

In the 1920s, gerberas made their way to North America. Extensive breeding took place at the University of California at Davis during the 1970s that eventually led to many plants suitable for garden use.

Breeding in Florida and Europe was more focused on developing long-stemmed cultivars for greenhouse cut-flower production, which is most commonly produced today in Japan and Europe, with most cut gerberas from Columbia surrounding countries in South America and the Netherlands. [2]

While treated as annuals in cold climates, gerbera daisies are classified as herbaceous perennials and members of the aster family.

They tend to reach a little over 1 foot high, although some may grow larger than that, and their stunning vibrant colors bloom all summer long.

Gerberas are typically grown as perennials in planting zones 9-11 and treated as annuals in the remaining zones.

Gerbera daisies thrive in planting areas that receive full sun to partial shade, ao be sure to keep this in mind when choosing your planting spot!

• Full sun preferable in the North and partial shade in the South.

Grow your gerberas in well-draining soil enriched with compost. Sandy soil is excellent for these blooms as well, as with gerberas, the more drainage, the better.

Give them an average amount of water except when transplanting (be sure transplants get plenty of water until they become established in their new location. Keep the soil evenly moist (not soggy) at the root level.

Fertilize your gerberas regularly will an all-purpose fertilizer for top-notch blooms. [3]

Your gerberas are thriving, and you want to bring a little bit of that beautiful vibrancy indoors.

Easy!

Here’s how you do it:

• Combine a packet of flower food with 1 quart of hot water in a clean container – mix and add the mixture to a clean vase.
• Hold your gerberas under water and cut the base of the stem at an angle using sharp shears.
• Put your stems into water immediately after cutting.
• Keep the water in the vase quite shallow (about 1 inch) to keep your fresh gerberas from becoming soggy and weak.
• Let the blooms set in a cool room overnight to condition the flowers and bring them into a space with bright indirect light the next day.

Avoid areas with high heat or freezing temps such as near drafty windows or vents, and replace the water with clean, fresh water every 2 days or if the water begins to discolor or become foggy. [4]