Treasure Flower Care
Gazania rigens
A ground cover that loves sunny and hot weather, is very drought tolerant and produces bright, daisy-like flowers. It likes full sun and well-drained soils; its flowers close in cloudy weather and at night.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- General care: Not present in the garden; it died in the winter cold. Seeds can be ordered for the new season.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
- General care: Not grown in the garden; seed-starting can begin indoors.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
- General care: Once the risk of last frost has passed (end of the month), start soil preparation; choose a well-drained spot for the seedlings.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
- Watering: Give newly planted seedlings a first watering and water as the soil dries out.
- Fertilizing: Two to three weeks after the seedlings settle in, a potassium-rich fertilizer that promotes flowering may be applied. Do not overfeed.
- General care: It is the best time to plant ready-made seedlings; choose a spot that gets full sun.
- Pests & diseases: Protect young seedlings from slugs and snails.
- Watering: Water deeply once a week (20-25 L/m²).
- Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing once a month.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- Plant protection: Check for aphids.
- General care: Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy, water-retaining soil, plant on a mound or bed raised 20-30 cm, and keep the root collar above the surrounding soil level.
- Pests & diseases: Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: Main flowering period.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- Plant protection: Check for spider mites.
- General care: It flowers abundantly even in the hottest months.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: Flowering continues in full swing.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: Flowering continues; you can start preparing space for winter plants.
- Pests & diseases: Powdery mildew (white powder) can appear on humid evenings.
- Watering: Stop when the rains begin.
- General care: It is removed at the end of the season; it is replaced with seasonal planting.
- General care: In winter rains, make sure water does not pool in the root zone; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
- Pests & diseases: The plant has completed its life cycle.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
- General care: The bed is empty.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.
Browse all plant guides