"Gerbera Daisy"

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About the Gerbera Daisy

The Gerbera Daisy or Gerbera is also known as the Transvaal Daisy, African Daisy, Barberton Daisy, and Rooigousblom (in South Africa). The most common varieties are hybrids of Gerbera jamesonii, pronounced "ger-ber-a jaym-i-so-neye" and G. viridifolia.

The Gerbera Daisy is native to South Africa (the Transvaal and Cape Province). Gerbera was named after German naturalist Traugott Gerber in 1743. The species G. jamesonii was named after Robert Jameson, a Scotsman, who ran a gold mine near Barberton in the Transvaal area of South Africa. He collected live specimens in the Barberton district in 1884.

Gerberas were first imported to Europe in the 19th century. Most of today's commercially grown varieties come from a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and G.viridifolia made by Richard Lynch at the end of the 19th century in Cambridge, England. But it is only recently that they have become extremely popular and fashionable. Gerbera Daisies are now grown commercially in large quantities in California and Florida. Also in the Netherlands, Columbia and surrounding countries in South America, and Israel.

The flat-faced, symmetrical, daisy-like flowers, 2-5 inches (5-12 cm) across, possess a beautiful satin sheen. They have a yellow or dark center. The thin, leafless flower stalk varies between 10-24 inches (25-60 cm) in length.

Gerberas come in a very wide range of colors - almost every colour except blue. But typically purple, red, pink, orange, yellow, cream, peach and white. Breeders have produced hundreds of different colored varieties with subtle differences in shading from creamy pastels to hot neons, some with dark centers, some with shades of buff and maroon, some with serrated or frilly petals, or double flowers and extra wide petals.

Multicolored varieties - vibrant bicolors and tricolors - and Gerberas with bright, intense colors like magenta will spice up any display. There are even types with large flower heads bigger than your hand. If you want a flower for a particular color-match you are quite likely to find it in a Gerbera Daisy.

The African Daisy is available all year round. The best time to buy your Gerbera Daisy Flowers is when the outer petals are fully expanded, but before the florets that make up the disc center are fully mature (before shedding pollen). It is better to buy an over-developed flower rather than one under-developed, for Gerbera harvested too soon will wilt.

What to Do When You Receive Your Gerbera Daisy Flowers

1. Unpack your flowers straightaway.

2. Use a clean vase. Fill it with clean lukewarm water and add a floral preservative solution, following the instructions provided. Gerberas in particularly are sensitive to pollution in the water from a dirty vase, and this may cause their stems to collapse because of blockage from a build-up of bacteria. So they last longer in a clean container. Non-floridated water also promotes longer vase life of the flowers.

3. Cut off any leaves in the bouquet that would be below the water level in the vase. Otherwise these will rot, pollute the water and shorten the life of your Gerbera Flowers. Also remove any damaged leaves or flowers, and any yellowing foliage.

4. Cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of your flower stems between the leaf joints, with the stems under water. Make the cut at an angle so that the flower stems do not rest flat on the bottom of the vase.

By doing this you help your Gerbera Daisy to maintain water uptake. Air bubbles and debris tends to collect in the bases of the stems and ,if this is not removed, water flow in the stems is greatly restricted. The cut should be at an angle and not flat across. You do not want the flower stems resting flat on the bottom of the vase since this will also restrict water uptake.

5. Arrange your flowers in the vase so that they are attractively displayed. It is a good idea to support the flowers in the vase with wire so that the stem ends do not touch the bottom of the container. The Gerbera Daisy has a somewhat bendy flower stem which you can gently wire for greater stability. Take care in handling them as they bruise easily.

6. It is important when caring for Gerbera Daisies to keep the flowers in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Avoid draughts. They do not like very hot or cold areas. In a hot place in the direct sun the flowers will soon die.

7. If your flower stems are limp, put them in a tall container, and support the heads with wire, leaving the stems hanging into the water. They will then rehydrate and stiffen up. If Gerbera stems are sturdy and just need straightening, keep them out of water for 12 hours or until they are limp, and then treat as above. Cut off the heel of the stem, if it is still there, as it does not absorb water well.

Care of Your Gerbera Flowers

1. Check the water level frequently and top up the vase with lukewarm water to avoid chilling the flowers.

2. Regularly remove damaged, or dying flowers and foliage. This helps your flowers last longer.

3. Every 3-4 days remove your flowers from the vase. And cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems under water and at an angle. Gerbera flower stems are easily blocked. So re-cutting the stem ends will maintain good water uptake. Also change the water at the same time, adding a drop of bleach.

Flower Life

If you give your Gerbera Daisy flowers good care, they will generally last from 7 to 10 days.

A new development is the miniature Gerbera or Germini hybrids. They have sturdier stems to help the flowers stay upright. These are available in the same wide choice of colours, but are only two inches (5cm) across, and so more appropriate for smaller flower arrangements.

There is more Gerbera Daisy information available. Please check out the links on the left at the top of the page. Click here for more Gerbera Daisy Information.

Gerbera Daisies may sometimes be misspelt gerbera daisey, gerbera dasies, gerbera daises, gerbera daisys.

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