PlantFiles: Gerbera Daisy, Transvaal Daisy, African Daisy, Barberton Daisy, Gerber Daisy
Gerbera jamesonii 'Festival Neon Rose with Eye'

Gerbera Daisy, Transvaal Daisy, African Daisy, Barberton Daisy, Gerber Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) 'Festival™ Neon Rose with Eye' is one of the 'Festival™ Mix' gerber daisies. It has consistently large flowers, multiple blooms at any time and blooms early than other gerber daisies. The stems reach about a foot long so the blooms stand above the shorter foliage. The very thick and sturdy bloom stems and long lasting blooms make the blooms ideal for cutting. vase life may extend to 14 days.

It should be planted in well-composted, well drained soil. Be sure to plant the crown slightly above the soil line because the crown is prone to crown rot. Allow the soil to dry some between waterings. If the blooms start to nod downward and/or the leaves start to wilt, be sure to water it right away. I am careful to not wet the stems and leaves when I water my gerber daisies because they are also prone to fungus attacks. I water away from the base of the plants. Watering early in the day helps prevent powdery mildew. Mine are in large containers that receive some morning sun, filtered shade most of the time and some afternoon sun. Gerbera daisies do not do well for me in direct sun because of the heat in San Antonio. It took me a while to find the perfect location for them. If gerbera daisies do not receive enough sunlight, they will not bloom very much if at all.

Remove the dead leaves at the base of the plant.as soon as possible to discourage fungal growth. Especially during blooming, the plant should be fertilized at least monthly with a balanced fertilizer. Spent flowers should be trimmed off. Because plant growth and flowering slows during the winter months, the plant should be allowed to dry a little more and fertilizer is reduced to every other month. Gerbera jamesonii are propagated from division of the crown in the summer and from seed. Seed should be purchased from a reputable seed source to be sure that the plant comes true to the parent plant.