Ursinia anthemoides Bright Orange - 50 Seed Pack - Indigenous Annual - Global Shipping - New

The genus Ursinia is placed in the Asteraceae family and has about 40 species in southern Africa, and one in Ethiopia. Some species, most notably Ursinia anthemoides, are introduced in Western Australia and New Zealand but the genus is mostly concentrated in the Western Cape. The genus shows a broad variety of growth forms, from herbs and annuals to dwarf perennial shrubs, and also has a broad span of ecological preferences and wide geographical distribution, spanning several biomes from semi-desert to mesic grassland.

Ursinia anthemoides, with its bright orange flowers, catches the eye wherever it is planted. During spring this indigenous South African annual makes a striking display of bright Orange Golden flowers wherever it is planted en mass. Commonly known as Solar Fire it quickly grows to 50 cm tall & wide, and explodes into a mass of sunny, golden blooms that last for months.

With a rich, shiny maroon ring encircling the central golden eye, the 6.5 cm flowers are eye-catching held atop the rich green mound of ferny foliage. They will attract butterflies to the garden. Seed should be sown from late summer to early autumn in open ground on a calm day, to produce a brilliant display from mid to late winter. The plants should be grown in full sunshine as the flowers do not open properly in a shady place. Sow the seeds just below the surface of well-drained soil and keep damp. Germination takes place within seven to twenty one days, depending on the weather. The young seedlings should be watered copiously and the soil kept damp, but not waterlogged, all winter. They do not like a lot of wind. In places with heavy winter rainfall, the plants must be given well-drained soil, preferably on a slope. In dry inland areas, they should be watered regularly every day until the flowering period. The plants should be set close together in the beds for best effect.