The
South African daisy is a popular cultivated plant. In recent years it has been
planted widely in gardens, in soft areas along roads and in other public places
so I was not too surprised when I saw it growing profusely along the side of several
country roads near Rabat .
This
species of daisy can grow up to half a metre high. Many varieties are available
in garden centres throughout the world and new ones are being created every
year.
The South African daisy is one of several
species of related daisies originating in southern Africa .
It is usually found in high altitudes being most adapted to live between 1000
and 3000 metres above sea level.
Plants can be annuals or perennials. In
areas where the ground freezes they survive the colder parts of the year as
seeds but in milder climates they can live for several years.
The flowers have a
typical daisy shape. In wild plants they are pink with a
yellow disc with a blue centre. Cultivated
varieties have large flowers which range in colour from
white to violet. Some varieties have
spoon-shaped petals.
In Malta the South
African daisy readily propagates from seed and it can easily spread into the
Maltese countryside. Introduced species can spread very fast because and
outnumber indigenous species.
This article was published in Th Times of Malta on 20 March 2014
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