Pictured is my favourite Arctotis cultivar, commonly known as African daisy. This along with many other cultivars have been growing at Dunedin Botanic Garden for many years, highlighting how valuable and resilient they are — just like that vintage garment! The beautiful silver-grey foliage drapes over the rocks and the daisy-like flowers bloom continuously over spring and summer. Flowers come in various shades including bright yellow, peach, red and all shades of pink, standing out above the light-coloured foliage. The ray florets, or outer flower parts open fully on bright days to showcase the contrasting dark central disc florets. On dismal days when there are fewer pollinating insects flying about, they remain shy and closed. Once the flower fades it droops and looks rather sleepy, this is when it is time to dead-head so that the plant doesn’t put energy into producing seed, thus extending the flowering season. Arctotis have evolved with hairy stems and leaves to conserve moisture and enable them to survive during dry periods — an important survival skill for their natural habitat.
African daisies are low maintenance and long-lived — great value for money which reiterates that they are very much like that loved, resurfacing outfit.
