Looking for Spring in the Garden

It has been a long winter and many western gardeners are almost desperately searching for signs of color announcing spring’s arrival. Many fall-planted bulbs are in bloom, or nearly so, including crocus, winter aconites, grape hyacinths and early windflowers. These are but opening acts to the glory about to unfold for those who have discovered the joy of gardening with perennials - durable and hardy plants that survive our challenging climate, year after year.

Gazanias: Bright as early sunshine

Two of the very earliest perennials for western gardens are surprisingly native to a similar climate in the plains and mountains of South Africa – Gazanias. Two superior selections were introduced to through Plant Select®  in 1998 and 2003 - the orange-flowered Tanager® (Gazania krebsiana) and the yellow-flowered Colorado Gold® (Gazania linearis). Both are relatively small, low growers (under 6” tall) and each plant spreads about 8-12” wide.

Both begin blooming as early as February in protected, south exposures at lower elevations and continue through most of the season. Mid-summer heat may slow the rate of blossoms, but most plants will continue to bloom on and off through autumn--sometimes even into winter!

 Two outstanding varieties from Plant Select®

Colorado Gold® is the hardier of the two selections with genetics coming from plants native to the Drakensberg mountains at elevations up to 10,000’. This strain was selected for its vigor and cold hardiness by Panayoti Kelaidis (Denver Botanic Gardens) of natural hybrids from collections he’d personally made in the 1990’s. The centers of the sunny yellow blossoms vary slightly, and each daisy-like flowers is 2-3” wide.

Tanager® is best treated as a short-lived perennial or annual for colder climates, but will overwinter in warmer microclimates and hardiness zones. This strain was selected for its large, brightly colored blossoms from plants found native in the lower elevations of South Africa. The color is a knockout orange, seldom seen in perennials for our area, and flowers are generally 3” wide.

Gazanias are heliotropic, meaning their flowers turn to face the sun. The blossoms also close up at night, so be sure to place them where they can best be enjoyed during the day.

Wildlife benefits

Gazanias are pollinated by bees, flies, beetles, butterflies and even ants, so it’s good to have sources of food (pollen) for these insects in very early spring. Our warm March days often cause these insects to be active before many of our hardy plants have had a chance to break dormancy and begin to bloom, and these gazanias offer important food early in the seasons’ cycle.

Growing tips

Both strains need lots of sun and well-drained soils for best performance. Some plants may be short-lived, so let them go to seed and naturalize where possible.

At a glance: Hardy gazanias

• Colorado Gold® (Gazania linearis)
• Tanager® (Gazania krebsiana)
• Height: 4-6” tall
• Width: 8-12” wide
• Growth habit: low, mounding
• How to Use:  Rock gardens, front of borders, containers
• Culture:  Sunny spots with moderate to dry conditions in well-drained soils.