Gazania-Orange

Plant Type: perennial
Plant Height: 6-12 inches
Spread: 6-10 inches
Flower Color: bright orange
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Orange Gazania (Gazania rigens or Gazania splendens): A Vibrant, Low-Maintenance Perennial for Arizona Landscapes

Orange Gazania, with its brilliant daisy-like blooms, brings striking color and resilience to Arizona’s sun-soaked gardens. Native to South Africa, this hardy perennial (or annual in cooler climates) is celebrated for its vibrant flowers, drought tolerance, and adaptability, making it an ideal choice for low-water landscapes. The bold orange flowers, coupled with its ability to thrive in harsh, dry environments, make Gazania a popular option for gardeners looking to add bright and sustainable beauty to sunny spaces.

Key Features of Orange Gazania

• Dazzling Orange Blooms: The large, daisy-like flowers of Gazania come in a variety of shades, with the orange hues providing especially vivid and cheerful pops of color. These blooms open up fully in the sun, creating a radiant display during the day and closing at night or on cloudy days. The flowers are also known to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding ecological benefits to their beauty.

• Compact, Low-Growing Form: Growing to a height of 6 to 12 inches and spreading 6 to 10 inches wide, Gazanias form low, dense mounds that make them perfect for ground covers, borders, or filling in between larger plants. Their narrow green leaves, often with silvery or hairy undersides, offer subtle texture and contrast against the bright orange flowers.

• Drought Tolerance and Easy Care: Adapted to full sun, Gazanias require well-draining soil and are incredibly drought-tolerant once established. They thrive in arid conditions with moderate watering and can withstand dry spells, making them an excellent choice for xeriscaping, rock gardens, and other water-wise garden designs. While they appreciate some moisture, Gazanias can endure periods of dryness, making them low-maintenance and ideal for the Arizona climate.

Care and Maintenance for Orange Gazania

• Soil and Sun Requirements: Plant Gazanias in full sun for best flowering and performance. They are well-suited to sandy, rocky, or loamy soils as long as they drain well. Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged areas, as excess moisture can lead to root rot.

• Watering Needs: While Gazanias can handle drought, a moderate watering routine is beneficial during extremely hot or dry periods to support prolonged blooming. Avoid overwatering, as this can diminish their drought tolerance.

• Pruning and Deadheading: Removing spent blooms will encourage continued flowering and keep the plant looking tidy. Prune back any leggy growth periodically to maintain a compact shape, especially if grown as a perennial.

• Pest and Disease Resistance: Gazanias are generally pest-free and resist most common diseases. Their tolerance to salty conditions makes them suitable for coastal and desert gardens alike.

Landscaping Uses for Orange Gazania

Gazania’s vibrant flowers and tough, adaptable nature make it versatile for a variety of landscaping applications:

• Borders and Edging: With its low profile and compact growth habit, Gazania makes a beautiful edging plant for pathways, driveways, or garden beds, where its bright flowers can create a stunning border.

• Ground Cover: Gazania’s mat-forming growth habit allows it to fill in empty garden spaces, making it an effective ground cover for sunny, dry areas. It helps prevent erosion on slopes and stabilizes soil with minimal water input.

• Rock Gardens and Xeriscaping: In arid landscapes, Gazanias are an ideal addition to rock gardens and xeriscape designs, where their drought tolerance shines, and their vivid colors offer contrast against rock and gravel.

• Containers and Hanging Baskets: Orange Gazanias do wonderfully in containers, patio pots, and hanging baskets, adding color to hardscapes and outdoor living areas. They perform well in these settings as long as they receive adequate sunlight and well-drained soil.

Why Choose Orange Gazania for Arizona Gardens?

Orange Gazania’s ability to withstand heat, thrive in full sun, and tolerate drought makes it perfectly suited to Arizona’s climate. The plant’s low water needs and cheerful flowers make it a popular choice for gardeners aiming to create sustainable, eye-catching landscapes with minimal maintenance.

Gazania: A Bright, Water-Wise Choice for Arizona Landscapes

Orange Gazanias provide a combination of beauty, resilience, and ease of care that is perfect for adding lasting color to Arizona’s hot and dry gardens. Whether used in borders, ground covers, or container displays, these hardy plants deliver vibrant blooms and low-maintenance appeal, enhancing the beauty and sustainability of outdoor spaces across the desert landscape.

Three Timbers Installation Guide (Feel Free to Follow): Gazania-Orange

Planting Guide:

• Location: Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and blooming)
• Soil: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil (slightly acidic to neutral soil preferred)
• Spacing: Space plants 1.5-2 feet apart to allow for optimal growth and air circulation
• Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as the root ball, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface
• Support: Gazania-Orange is a compact, low-growing plant that does not require staking

Watering Guide:

Watering After Planting:

• Initial Watering: Water thoroughly immediately after planting to saturate the root ball and surrounding soil
• Frequency: Water every 3-4 days for the first 2-3 weeks to help establish the root system
• Watering Amount: Provide 1 inch of water per session for deep watering

When is the Plant Established?

• Timeframe: Gazania-Orange is considered established after 2-3 months when the roots have spread into the surrounding soil

Watering Once Established:

• Summer: Water every 7-10 days during the hotter months. If temperatures exceed 100°F, increase watering to every 5-7 days. Provide 1.5-2 inches of water per session.
• Winter: Water every 3-4 weeks during the cooler months, depending on rainfall.

Drip Irrigation Setup:

• Placement of Emitters: Place the drip emitters 12-18 inches away from the base of the plant to ensure deep watering of the root zone
• Flow Rate: Use emitters with a flow rate of 1-2 gallons per hour
• Number of Emitters: 1 emitter per plant for even watering distribution
• Adjusting Frequency: Increase watering frequency in summer to every 5-7 days, and reduce to every 3-4 weeks in winter