African daisy

Any of several African plants in the composite family, especially those in the genera Arctotis, Gerbera, and Lonas, that have showy flower heads.

Ark-toe'tis. A genus of South African, white-woolly herbs, some widely grown.

Description
They have alternate leaves, usually toothed or deeply cut, and handsome, long-stalked, blue, yellow, or orange heads with both ray and disk flowers.

How to Grow
Start seeds indoors. When night temperatures rise to 50° F (10° C), move outdoors. Space 6-12 in. (15-30 cm) apart. These plants prefer a long, cool growing season and average soil with good drainage.

Arctotis stoechadifolia
Blue-eyed African Daisy . Stout, 2-4 ft. (75-120 cm) high. Flowerheads 3 in. (7.5 cm) across; disk flowers violet, ray flowers creamy above, red beneath. Many cultivars, in a variety of colors. South Africa. Tender annual.

The botanical name for African daisy.

The noun has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: shrub of southwestern Mediterranean region having yellow daisylike flowers
  Synonyms: yellow ageratum, Lonas inodora, Lonas annua

Meaning #2: African or Asiatic herbs with daisylike flowers

Meaning #3: any of several plants of the genus Arctotis having daisylike flowers

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Arctotis
Arctotis flower head
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus: Arctotis L.
Species
See text.

Namaqualand Gousblom (Arctotis fastuosa) Goegap N.R., Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa

Arctotis stoechadifolia P. J. Bergius, West Coast Nationalpark, Western cape, Southafrica

Arctotis is a genus of about 40-50 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to southern Africa, from South Africa north to Angola. Some of the plants are alternatively placed in the genus Venidium. Many are called by the common name "African daisy", or "Gousblom" in Afrikaans. Some species have been developed as popular horticultural items because of their attractive yellow, orange, red, or white flowers. Gardeners cultivate some species as half-hardy annuals.

Selected species

• A. acaulis - Botterblom, Gousbloom
• A. adpressa - Gousblom
• A. amoena
• A. angustifolia - Smalbaar Gousblom
• A. arctotoides - Butterflower, Botterblom, African Daisy
• A. argentea
• A. aspera
• A. auriculata
• A. bellidifolia
• A. breviscapa - Sandveld Gousblom
• A. candida - Malmesbury Gousblom
• A. cinerea
• A. cuprea
• A. elatior
• A. fastuosa
• A. flaccida
• A. flammea - African Daisy
• A. foeniculacea
• A. frutescens
• A. galbrata
• A. glaucophylla
• A. gumbletonii - Bottergousblom
• A. hirsuta - Gousblom
• A. laevis
• A. leiocarpa - Gousblom
• A. leptorhiza
• A. leucanthemoides
• A. merxmuellerii - Gousblom
• A. revoluta - Krulblaargousblom
• A. rosea
• A. semipapposa
• A. squarrosa
• A. stoechadifolia
• A. sulcocarpa - Gousblom
• A. tricolor
• A. undulata
• A. venusta - Blue-eyed African Daisy

Plant diseases

Main article: List of African daisy diseases

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