The Popularity of Osteospermum

Some plants are undeniably “hot” purchases for gardeners. These most desirable plants pop up and achieve great popularity. Osteospermum is a “hot” plant, and as one might guess from learning of its sun-baked South African origin, it handles the hot weather beautifully.

I am not sure if you are a “Facebook likes” person. I tend not to notice those notations. But on a garden and plant website I enjoy visiting, I could not ignore the extraordinary number of Facebook acknowledgments that Osteospermum received in the earlier part of 2024. What was pictured was one of these plants in sunset tones; it was part of the Zion™ series which mirrors the shades that are seen at Zion National Park. The photo, and thus the plant, gained star-like popularity among gardeners visiting the site. Osteospermum seemed to be red-carpet ready.

Thinking this might be a fluke, I checked out the sites of sellers with Osteospermum offerings. It was still quite early in spring, and this plant which is more commonly known as the African Daisy or Cape Daisy was not yet available in local places where I shop, but it was promised and available by way of the Internet for advance order…. Or was it? Sold out. Sold out. I couldn’t believe it. What was it with this African Daisy?

Well, first off, Osteospermum is not brand new to garden centers and greenhouses. It has been used as a good container plant and a full and shrubby bedding plant for quite a while here in the States. The sunrise/sunset tones of plants in the Osteospermum Zion™ series have certainly become a hit. On these plants, flowers appear with ombre-style gradations of purples, yellows, and/or oranges… sunrise/sunset colors, one gradually blending into the next. To my eyes, these are especially pretty, and I guess my eyes are not that different from those of others. (These Zion™ beauties are POPULAR.) So it might be this playing up of tones from nature (sun, sky, rock) that is drawing people in. But I think it is also the fact that the African Daisy is a sub-shrub that makes it so appealing to busy gardeners in 2024.

Sub-shrubs, or plants with woody bases, are strong little guys. They take hold and don’t let go, and this is nice for gardeners who want easy-to-grow plants and plants with staying power. (I would venture to guess that that is most of us.) But many of these sub-shrubs are not as prone to flowering as is the African Daisy. This plant may have gained its popularity due to the fact that a sea of flowers is almost always on display in summer. Plant Osteospermum, and you’ll get daisies, not just foliage. Sure, the wrong location and a total lack of care can do damage to these plants. But without a doubt, they can handle less-than-perfect conditions. Get them into well-draining soil, and you are halfway along the road to having remarkable plants.

Growers of African Daisies seem always to call them “Osteos” in short. Keep an ear open for that name, in case you are scouring some greenhouse shelves and trying to find these plants. And when you find them, try to get them in good number. They look best, I think, when creating a true vista in one part of your garden. Rather than a dot of purple and orange, try a full “sunset” with an Osteospermum Zion™ cultivar or a similar Osteo. In full bloom, strong and self-sufficient, these plants really are impressive. They truly are worthy of the Facebook “likes” that they get. And they are no “flash in the pan”. They will surely be popular, and beautiful, for a long time and for good reason.