How to Grow Gazania

Gazania rigens · Zones 2-11

Gazania is an annual grown for its blooms, which open from summer through fall. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11, shrugs off deer, shrugs off dry spells, and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.

Zones

2-11

pH Range

5.5-7.5

Sun

Full Sun

Days to Maturity

70

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What Gazania is

Gazania grows as an annual and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms from summer through fall. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.

How to grow Gazania

Gazania grows in USDA zones 2 through 11. Gazania does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,400 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 60 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.

USDA Zones

2-11

USDA PHZM 2023

Soil pH

5.5 - 7.5

USDA PLANTS Database

Sun

Full Sun

Growable Ground plant catalog

Drainage

well (dry spells)

Growable Ground plant catalog

Days to Maturity

70 days

Growable Ground plant catalog

GDD Required

1400+

Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.

Growable Ground plant catalog

Mature Height

1 ft

Growable Ground plant catalog

Frost-Free Days

60+

The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.

Growable Ground plant catalog

  1. Start the season right

    Plant gazania in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.

  2. Match the soil

    Gazania prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.

  3. Water steadily

    Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.

  4. Harvest at its peak

    Cut gazania blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.

Good to know

Good news for pet owners — gazania isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)

Gazania offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.

Free Report

See if Gazania will thrive on your land

Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether gazania actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow Gazania in my zone?

Gazania grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.

When should you plant Gazania?

Most growers plant gazania after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 60-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.

How much sun does Gazania need?

Gazania needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.

What soil does Gazania need?

Gazania prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.

Does Gazania attract pollinators?

Yes — gazania's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.

Is Gazania safe for pets?

Gazania is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)