http://www.thegardener.co.za I 77Osteospermum ‘Blushing Beauty’ Nemesia ‘Nesia’Dianthus ‘Pink Kisses’CHECKLIST
The Argyranthemum ‘Madeira’ range
of daisy bushes has proved its mettle over
the last few years, and will really excite you
if you are also daisy crazy. These plants
do not grow bigger than 50 x 50cm and
form flower-smothered mounds that are
perfect for mass or container planting.
Colours range from white to dark pink,
purplish pink with bright yellow eyes, red
and yellow. Flowers can be single, double
or densely crested.
There are many ranges that have been
bred from our indigenous Cape daisy,
Osteospermum. ‘FlowerPower’ is still in
this year and offers double-crested flowers
with double the pleasure, as the blooms
don’t close at night. We love the simple
single-daisy look of ‘Osticade’ in shades
of pink, purple and white. New on the
block is ‘Blushing Beauty’, a romantic and
exciting bicolour with golden yellow petals
with dreamy pink/purple centres.
The plant world is fickle as far as
indigenous Nemesia is concerned. As soon
as you get to know a new hybrid bred from
this lovely genus, which is always flavour
of the month in spring, others come along.
Most are compact, sweetly scented and
will flower repeatedly after a light trim.
Nemesia ‘Nesia’ is a top range with shiny
green foliage and large, scented flowers in
exciting colours. Great for instant bedding
colour in sun and light shade.
Dianthus, mini carnations or ‘pinks’, are
typical harbingers of spring. Grab a few
pots of D. ‘Pink Kisses’ to keep on a sunny
windowsill, to plant in window boxes, or
as a border for beds. These upright little
plants have lovely clove-scented, two-tone
pink flowers and light-grey foliage.