Gazania rigens Big Kiss Yellow Flame

The Gazania 'Big Kiss Yellow Flame' offers large flowers reminiscent of daisies whose outer florets are beautifully striped with amber yellow and scarlet red. Exceptional for its long flowering period - from May to October - and the stunning beauty of its blooms, this less hardy variety thrives in pots on the terrace, as well as in summer beds. 

Gazania is a plant of the Asteraceae family found throughout tropical Africa. The typical variety is sun yellow with an orange heart speckled with black and brown. It is a perennial cultivated as an annual in Europe. Gazania 'Big Kiss Yellow Flame' is a cultivar from the Kiss series, with flowers that have grown in size and voluptuousness. It has increased in size by 50% compared to its parent. With an average diameter of 12 cm (5in), they are certainly the largest Gazania flowers at present. Each flower has a double row of outer ligules arranged in a staggered pattern. Each outer floret is scarlet red widely margined with amber yellow. The base is marked with purple brown. The central florets, which are tubular, give a velvety appearance to the generally amber to yellow ochre heart surrounded by a fine milk chocolate-coloured outline. This particular outline is marked with tiny bluish-gray dots evenly distributed. The flowers thus take on the appearance of a mandala with geometric figures. It almost seems as if a painter has leaned over and delicately brushed them; known in English as 'Treasure Flower', you can decide whether it is a gem or a work of art!

Gazania is a fairly low plant, reaching a maximum height of 30 cm (12in). The basal leaves form large tufts from which numerous stems rise, bearing a solitary head. They are tough, with a medium green colour on the upper side and silver-grey on the underside.

To fully appreciate their essence, they should be planted in small clusters along the edges of flowerbeds, combined with taller and monochrome plants. They enhance slopes by emphasising their contours. Similarly, they are perfect in pots under a veranda, in troughs, or containers on a patio. They must be positioned in full sun otherwise the flowers will not open. Impatient gardeners will appreciate them for both their beauty and simplicity. They grow in all soils, with a preference for sandy soils that are well-drained, and can withstand long periods of drought. Gazanias, however, do not tolerate waterlogged soils. If you water them sparingly but regularly, they will be even more beautiful.