When Your Garden Becomes a Work of Art
At DH Garden Centre in Vancouver, customers often come in asking for flowers that are both low-maintenance and full of life – something that blooms like fireworks but doesn’t demand too much care. When that’s the brief, I always point to one plant with a knowing smile: Gazania rigens.
Also known as the treasure flower, Gazania rigens looks like it’s been hand-painted by nature. Its radiant petals, streaked with yellows, oranges, purples, and whites, open up like sunbursts, brightening up any space—be it a balcony, patio, or garden bed.
But here’s what most people don’t realize: behind its exotic appearance is a surprisingly tough little plant. Drought-tolerant. Sun-hungry. Fast-growing. And perfect for Vancouver’s dry summer months.
If you’re looking for a bloom that can thrive in containers, laugh at poor soil, and still deliver show-stopping color — read on.
If you’re looking for a bloom that can thrive in containers, laugh at poor soil, and still deliver show-stopping color — read on.
What Is Gazania Rigens?
Gazania rigens is a flowering perennial native to South Africa. It’s part of the Asteraceae family (same as daisies and sunflowers) and is commonly grown as an annual in cooler climates like Canada. The plant forms low-growing clumps of silvery-green, lance-shaped leaves, from which large, daisy-like flowers bloom.
Its nickname, “treasure flower,” comes from the dazzling metallic sheen of its petals – like tiny gems scattered across the soil.
Key traits of Gazania rigens:
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Grows 6–12 inches tall
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Blooms in a range of colors: yellow, orange, pink, purple, white, and bicolor
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Opens in full sun, closes in shade or cloudy weather
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Loved by pollinators like bees and butterflies
Is Gazania Rigens Right for Vancouver’s Climate?
Short answer: Absolutely – especially in summer.
Here in Kitsilano and across the Greater Vancouver area, we enjoy a temperate coastal climate. While winters are too cold for Gazania rigens to survive outdoors, it thrives during the summer months when:
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Days are long
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Sunlight is abundant
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Rainfall is limited
Hardiness:
Gazania rigens is perennial in zones 9–11 but treated as an annual in Vancouver (Zone 7–8). However, it can be overwintered indoors in containers.
Pro tip from Darrell Smith:
“If you want continuous blooms from May to October, Gazania rigens will outperform many other bedding plants and it won’t mind if you forget to water it for a few days.”
If you want continuous blooms from May to October, Gazania rigens will outperform many other bedding plants and it won’t mind if you forget to water it for a few days.
Where to Plant: Containers vs Garden Beds
Gazania rigens is remarkably versatile. It performs equally well in pots and in the ground, as long as it receives full sun and well-draining soil. In fact, planting in containers offers the advantage of mobility. You can chase the sun around your patio or move your plants indoors at the end of the season.
In-ground planting is a great option too, especially in rock gardens, dry borders, or the edges of walkways. The plant stays compact and won’t sprawl, making it ideal for lining the front of beds. Pair it with other sun-lovers like lavender, sedum, or dusty miller for a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant display.
Soil and Watering Needs
Gazania rigens thrives in poor to moderately fertile soil that drains quickly. Heavy clay or soggy conditions can cause root rot, so amend dense soil with sand or compost to improve structure. If growing in containers, use a cactus or succulent mix or blend regular potting soil with perlite.
Watering should be done sparingly. Once established, Gazania is drought-tolerant and actually prefers to dry out between waterings. In containers, allow the top inch or two of soil to dry completely before watering again. Overwatering is a far greater danger than under-watering.
Planting and Bloom Timeline
To get a jumpstart on blooms, start Gazania seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. In Vancouver, that usually means sowing in late February or early March. Transplant them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, around late April to early May. Expect your first blooms four to six weeks after transplanting. With regular deadheading, flowers will keep coming well into October.
Gazania Rigens performs equally well in pots and in the ground, as long as it receives full sun and well-draining soil
Maintenance and Deadheading
Gazania rigens is refreshingly low maintenance. However, to keep the blooms coming, you’ll want to deadhead regularly. This involves removing spent flowers by snipping or pinching them off just above the foliage. Doing so channels the plant’s energy into producing new buds rather than seeds.
You may occasionally need to tidy the plant by trimming yellow or leggy stems. This is especially true in containers where air circulation is more limited. But overall, Gazania doesn’t require heavy pruning or constant care.
Common Pests and Diseases
In Vancouver, Gazania rigens faces few major pest issues. However, in dry, dusty conditions, it can attract spider mites. Look for fine webbing or stippled leaves. Treat infestations with a blast of water or insecticidal soap.
Aphids may also appear on new growth but are easily removed by hand or controlled with neem oil. Powdery mildew can show up in humid weather, especially if the plant is crowded. Ensure good spacing and avoid wetting the leaves when watering. Root rot, the most serious issue, usually stems from overly wet soil.
Why the Flowers Close
New gardeners often panic when Gazania blooms close up during the day. Don’t worry—it’s not a sign of disease. Gazania rigens naturally closes its flowers at night and during overcast conditions. This evolutionary trait protects the reproductive parts from excess moisture and nighttime pests.
If your Gazania seems shy, it might need more direct light. In Vancouver’s urban areas, where sunlight can be blocked by buildings, placing your containers in the brightest possible spot ensures full, open blooms.
Companion Planting Ideas
Gazania rigens pairs beautifully with other plants that share its love of sun and dry feet. Some of our favorite companions include:
- Lavender, which provides fragrance and height
- Sedum and echeveria, for a textural contrast
- Dusty miller, whose silver foliage complements Gazania’s vibrant petals
- Bacopa or trailing lobelia, for soft trailing edges in containers
Together, these plants form stunning mixed containers or front-border plantings that look polished but require very little input.
A Customer’s Story
Last summer, a customer named Julia came into DH Garden Centre looking discouraged. “Everything I plant either dies or looks miserable,” she told us. We guided her toward Gazania rigens and recommended planting in several wide, shallow terracotta pots for her west-facing balcony.
Weeks later, she sent us a photo: her balcony was ablaze with orange and pink blooms, open wide and catching every drop of sun. “People on the street stop to ask what these are,” she wrote. “They make me happy every day.”
Her story isn’t rare. Gazania rigens consistently surprises our customers with how little it asks and how much it gives.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for a flower that combines dramatic looks with effortless care, Gazania rigens deserves a spot on your shortlist. It’s a celebration of color, a champion of dry summers, and a teacher of patience—opening only when the light is just right.
Visit DH Garden Centre in Kitsilano this spring and see our hand-picked collection of Gazania varieties. Whether you’re planting a balcony box, a raised bed, or a street-facing border, let us help you find the perfect match. Let’s grow a garden that makes every sunny day feel like a masterpiece.
Visit us at 3742 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
Shop online: dhgardencentre.com
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