Plant Profile

Picture or Drawing Botanical Name: jamesonii Common Name: Gerbera daisy, Transvaal daisy, Barberton daisy, African daisy

FAMILY NAME:

Species and cultivars of special interest:

G. jamesonii, Giant Spinner Pink & White, Azteca, Royal Salmon Rose

Origin: South Africa

Availability: All year

Foliage Characteristics:

This has a basal rosette, or rounded formation of dark green, spoon-shaped, hairy leaves that grow from the ground

Floral Characteristics: • Having a long vase life, Gerbera flowers are widely used in the Cut Flower Industry. are great flowers for adding colour to any room or garden. • Gerberas come in a wide range of colours - from light to dark yellow, orange, pink, brilliant scarlet, deep red, and many more. • Gerberas can be used in landscapes as bedding for borders and flower beds or as Cut Flowers for table arrangements

Special features and characteristics of special interest: The name Gerbera is in honour of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber, and the was named after Robert Jameson who collected live specimens while on a prospecting expedition to the Barberton district in 1884, even though the species had been collected on three earlier occasions by other people. In 1888, Medley Wood, the curator of the Durban Botanical Garden sent plants to Kew, which subsequently flowered. The breeding of Gerbera started at the end of the 19th century in Cambridge, England, when Richard Lynch crossed G.jamesonii and G.viridifolia. Most of the current commercially grown varieties originate from this cross.

Maintenance, Cultural requirements and Post Harvest Treatments: Place in fresh, clean, preferably tank or filtered water, as gerberas dislike fluoride. Place stems in water less than 10 cm deep to avoid deterioration of the outer stem surface. Use a standard flower food. Good hygiene is essential to prevent stem blockage and Botrytis infection. Careful packaging and handling are very important, as the stems are hollow and easily broken and the petals bruise easily. Gerbera stems are prone to bacterial blockages, which cause the stem to bend and the flower to wilt, so changing the water and recutting frequently are essential for maximum vase life.

Pest and Diseases: Aphids, thrips, snails and spider mites, root rot in cool damp soils, Alternation bacterial leaf spot if weather is cool and damp with rain or overhead irrigation

Use In Floristry: Suitable for wedding, birthday, anniversary and sympathy. (In any occasion)

Customer advice: Change the water every second day and add fresh flower food at the correct dilution. Gerberas do not like to be placed in deep water, as the furry stem rots quickly—the water should be just deep DT enough to prevent the vase tipping over.

Reference Read more : http://www.ehow.com/info_8057553_gerbera-species.html

http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/mostpopularflowers/gerberas

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/892/

http://plantsrescue.com/gerbera-jamesonii/

What cut flower is that? The essential care and handling guide for cut flower professionals (Delwyn Thomas, Bettina Gollnow)