Gazania rigens Zany F1 Orange (coated seeds) - Treasure Flower

Gazania Zany F1 Orange is a hybrid variety of this Mediterranean perennial, distinguished by its very compact habit and the beauty and abundance of its flowers. The beautiful dark green foliage forms a perfect setting for the orange flowering, enhanced by a central brown ring. Sown early in spring under heated cover, the seeds produce rapidly growing young plants, capable of flowering as early as May or June. Until autumn, the flowers are constantly renewed and enchant flower beds and rockeries. Its low habit also makes it ideal for creating flowering planters or pots to adorn a terrace or balcony. This beautiful plant is very heat-resistant and prefers sunny exposures.

Native to South Africa, Gazania belongs to the vast Asteraceae family, which boasts over 23,000 species! It includes many ornamental plants such as the popular Asters or the more niche Farfugium, which delights collectors. Many wild species from our countryside also belong to it, as do food plants (lettuce, artichoke...) and aromatic herbs like Artemisia. Gazania rigens is probably the most commonly cultivated among the 18 botanical species of the genus. It is also known by other names such as G. splendens, Gorteria rigens, or Othonna rigens. It loves heat and full sun — an essential condition for its flowers to open — and tolerates dry periods well due to its geographical origin.
The Zany series is a horticultural range of hybrids specifically developed by breeders for their flowering. Gazania Zany F1 Orange is a version with uniformly orange flowers, whose centre is bordered by an orange ring. In reality, as with all plants in this family, this inflorescence is a head, composed of narrow tubular flowers tightly packed together in the centre, surrounded by tubular flowers all around the periphery (which are often mistaken for petals). For this reason, the family was formerly known as the Compositae. Spring sowing produces young plants that form dense clumps, with satiny dark green foliage, reaching no more than 20 cm in height and a similar or greater width. The young Gazanias begin to flower from May, for the earliest sowings. Compound flowers of approximately 7 cm in diameter bloom, borne on short stems that allow them to largely cover the foliage. The ligulate flowers around the edge are a bright orange, marked near the base with a brown spot, forming a ring around the centre, which is made up of tubular flowers of the same colour as the ligulate ones. Flowering continues until September-October, and even longer if faded flowers are removed regularly and a regular potassium fertiliser is applied (liquid feed).

Sowing the seeds of Gazania rigens Zany F1 Orange will ensure long-lasting flowering at low cost. Except in Mediterranean regions, you should treat it as an annual to enjoy its brilliant flowering throughout the season. Plant it in containers, alone or alongside other summer annuals like Bacopa with its many small single flowers, or in the company of Petunia and Surfinia, with their colourful and generous blooms. In southern regions, you can treat it as a perennial by integrating it into mixed borders, with shrubs like Lantana with its astonishing multicoloured flowers, or other perennials such as Euryops with its ball-shape, Mediterranean plants, or the very architectural Leonotis leonorus with its ranks of orange flowers. Gazania adapts easily to coastal areas, where it can grow in sandy, light, poor soils, while tolerating drought, full sun, wind, and sea spray well. Coated seeds guarantee good germination and make your sowing more successful.