Gazania ‘White’

Gazania 'White' is a groundcover for the hard places: sandy soil, salt wind, baking summer heat. It grows about 25cm tall and spreads to 40cm, holding large silky white daisies above silvery foliage for months through the warmer half of the year. Planted 30cm apart it closes into a dense flowering carpet that asks for almost nothing once it settles in.

Why you'll love it

• Fast, cheap coverage. Sold as tube stock, it establishes quickly and knits together within a season or two, so a large bank or verge does not cost a fortune to plant.
• Thrives on neglect. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and untroubled by poor soil, it is a genuine plant-and-walk-away choice for dry gardens.
• Built for the coast. Salt laden wind that burns softer groundcovers barely marks it, which is why it is a fixture of Australian beachside streets.
• White flowers that lift a planting. The pale daisies read crisp against the silver leaves and flatter stronger colours planted around them.
• Feeds the pollinators. Open daisy flowers bring bees and butterflies through the garden all season.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Set plants 30cm apart for a solid carpet. At that spacing tubes cover ground quickly and smother most weeds as they close.

Borders and edging. The low, even habit makes a tidy flowering edge along paths and driveways that never needs cutting back off the paving.

Coastal gardens and rockeries. It roots happily into sandy, fast draining pockets where richer plants sulk, and it takes full seafront exposure.

Growing gazania in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun is non-negotiable: the flowers open on bright days and stay shut in shade or long overcast spells. It suits warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid climates. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland districts grow it in a sheltered sunny spot and expect some winter scruffiness.

Soil. Any free draining soil works, from pure sand to average garden loam. Wet feet in winter is the one reliable way to lose it, so avoid boggy ground.

Water and feed. Water weekly for the first six to eight weeks, then only through long dry spells. It needs no regular fertiliser; a light spring feed is plenty on very poor sand.

Pruning. Shear off spent flowers once or twice a season to keep the carpet tight and the blooms coming. Note that gazania is a declared weed in South Australia and an environmental weed in coastal bushland elsewhere, so keep it inside garden beds away from dunes and reserves.

What to expect when it arrives

Gazania 'White' is sold as tube stock. Tubes are small, a hand span of foliage on a strong root system, and the economical way to buy a groundcover in quantity. Planted into weed free, watered ground they take off within weeks in warm weather and begin flowering in their first season.

Tubes travel well and arrive in good order. Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full groundcover range
• More plants for coastal areas
• Choosing edging plants for paths and borders

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Space tubes 30cm apart for a full carpet within a season or two. Stretch to 40cm if you are covering a big area on a budget and can wait an extra season.

Why do the flowers close in the afternoon?

Gazania flowers open in response to direct sun and close in low light, late in the day and in dull weather. It is normal behaviour, not a health problem.

Can I plant gazania anywhere in Australia?

No. It is a declared weed in South Australia, and it is considered an environmental weed in coastal bushland areas elsewhere. Keep it in contained garden beds away from bushland and check your council's advice first.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only. It shrugs off the odd minor frost but repeated hard freezes will knock it back, so it is not the pick for cold tableland gardens.