Floradania.dk: Cape marguerite is a hit in the garden

Cape marguerite is a hit in the garden

No wonder that Cape marguerite – or Osteospermum in Latin – has become one of summer’s most popular plants in European gardens, containers and window-boxes. Irrespective of fashion or colours, there is always an Osteospermum to suit every taste.

With 30 different colours for more than 100 different varieties, the entire colour range is represented, from the most delicate pastel shades such as cream, delicate yellow, peach and rose to sharp sun yellow, orange, dark violet or two-coloured burned orange-red.

Luxuriant and easy in the garden
It is not only the numerous colours that have made the luxuriant marguerite the favourite among garden lovers, Osteospermum is also one of the hardiest outdoor plants available. It flowers luxuriantly with a minimum of care from May until the frost sets in. Its flowers are large, colourful composite flowers that cover the compact, herbaceous plant completely when they unfold.

It thrives best in direct sunlight or light shade and if watered a couple of times after it has been planted out in a garden bed, it develops roots that are so strong that no more water is required for the rest of the summer. However, feeding it once or twice will do it good.

Colourful containers
When Cape marguerites are planted out in containers or window-boxes, it is important to ensure sufficient space for the vigorous roots to develop during summer. Plant them in pots with at least 30 cm in diameter and make sure that there is 5-8 cm between the plants.

The containers must be watered and fed well throughout summer to ensure that the plants keep flowering. If they dry out, they will not flower.

Cut off the faded flowers to create more beautiful containers. However, there is no point in storing Cape marguerite throughout the winter.

An African speciality from Denmark
Cape marguerite originates from the southern parts of Africa. Since its introduction as an ornamental plant in two different colours in the early 1980s, Danish nurseries have captured the position as world-leading breeders of the hardy plant through extremely successful development efforts.

Caption: Osteospermum and Lavandula
Caption: Osteospermum and roses
Caption: Osteospermum with Lavandula and Campanula

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