Gazania (Gazania Rigens New Day Orange) - This plant is truly a treasure! No wonder is goes by the name of Treasure Flower, and it easily establishes from Gazania seeds. Gazania Treasure Flower boasts 4 inch orange colored flowers on a compact 12 inch plant which will also spread 12 inches. It is gorgeous when grown as a ground cover plant and quickly fills in an empty area with lovely orange flowers. Treasure Flower Gazania rigens also works well in pots on the sunny porch or patio or in window boxes.

Gazania rigens is a native of South Africa. In a frost-free climate, they will grow as perennials. In colder climates, they can be grown as an annual, and they will have flowers in 12 weeks after starting the flower seeds. Treasure Flowers bloom profusely from summer through fall in cooler climates and fall, winter and spring in hot climates.

If growing Gazania seeds in colder climates, start the flower seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last expected frost. Treasure Flower seeds should be pressed into the soil but not covered and kept moist but not saturated until germination occurs. After germination of the flower seeds, reduce watering and grow seedlings in a sunny window location. For warm climates, start the Gazania seeds directly outdoors in a prepared seedbed. Space the ground cover seed 8 - 12 inches apart in the seedbed.

Gazania care includes deadheading the spent flowers to promote the growth of more blooms. Also, Gazania plants benefit from an application of a balanced liquid fertilizer every other week during the growing season or mix in a slow-release fertilizer at the time of transplanting or preparing the seedbed. Water Gazania Treasure Flower plants slowly and deeply and let them dry out in-between waterings as they are quite resistant to drought. Applying an organic mulch around the base of the Gazania plants helps to hold moisture in.