Gazania rigens Zany Orange Flame seeds - Treasure Flower

Gazania rigens F1 Zany 'Orange Flame' is a hybrid variety with flowers in two contrasting shades of orange. This cultivar stands out for its uniform growth and abundance of large flowers with stable colour. Moreover, its flowers open earlier in the season and last longer even in cooler or overcast weather. Easy to grow and undemanding, it is just as attractive when planted in a pot or container on a terrace or balcony as it is in a low border, rockery, or integrated into large landscape compositions. This plant is exceptionally heat resistant and thrives particularly well in full sun.

Gazania rigens, also known as Treasure Flower, belongs to the extensive Asteraceae family. Originating from South Africa and Mozambique, it is distinguished by its flower heads, with bright yellow petals and an orange heart sprinkled with touches of black and brown. Although it is a herbaceous perennial plant, Gazania is often grown as an annual in cool and humid climates. It can sometimes survive as a perennial in a relatively mild winter in a dry environment.

The hybrid Gazania, Gazania rigens F1 Zany 'Orange Flame', is a more compact variety, measuring 20 cm in height and spread. This plant forms a small clump of basal leaves that give rise to numerous stems bearing a single head. The leaves are tough and have a medium green hue on their upper surface, while the underside sports a silvery tint. It offers an early and prolonged flowering period from May to October, provided that faded flowers are regularly removed. The solitary flowers appear at the end of the stems and resemble large daisies. They have an average diameter of 6 to 7 cm. The petals, called ligules in Asteraceae, are arranged in staggered rows around the heart. They are dark mahogany orange in the middle and orangish-yellow around. At the centre of the flower are tubular central florets, giving the flower a velvety texture, coloured yellow and circled in brown. It is important to note that the flowers tend to close in the absence of sunlight.

Gazania rigens F1 Zany 'Orange Flame' is highly valued for its abundant and regular flowering from spring to autumn, as well as its ability to withstand dry conditions in sunny areas. With its compact habit and dense foliage, it exudes elegance and lightness that harmonise well with surrounding plants. It adds a spectacular touch to all container arrangements or garden settings. Pair it with Annual Verbenas, Gauras, small grasses like Stipa, or Yarrows. This Gazania thrives in coastal gardens, where it can prosper in sandy, light, poor soils, enduring drought, full sun, wind, and sea spray.