How to grow Gerbera jamesonii

Gerbera jamesonii · Transvaal daisy, Barberton daisy

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) — south African perennial daisy with 8–10 cm flowers in yellow, orange, red, pink, white, salmon and bicolours on leafless stems above a rosette of long, slightly hairy leaves, 15–60 cm tall. Most are tender and grown as summer bedding, in pots or as flowering houseplants. Gerbera grows best in full sun. Water it about every 7 days while it grows.

Updated: October 28, 2026

When to plant gerbera?

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Frost dates · When to plant

Quick facts

Type	Flower
Latin name	Gerbera jamesonii
Family	Asteraceae
Also called	Transvaal daisy, Barberton daisy
Planted as	young plants from a nursery
Life span	perennial
Planting season	spring
Light	Full sun
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for planting	from 5 °C
First flowers	14 days after growth starts
Flowering lasts	150 days
Grown in	Greenhouse, Open ground, At home

How long does gerbera take from planting to flowering?

From planting to the first flowers: about 14 days, or 2 weeks.

Step	Day
Planting	0
Growth starts	0
First flowers	14
End of flowering	164

Days count from the day of sowing or planting, by the figures of the card.

Where does gerbera grow?

1,126 records of the plant in gardens, fields and the wild worldwide; most photos come from South Africa, United States, Australia, Brazil, and Germany.

World map: where gerbera has been recorded — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: Prince Molokomme, Robert Guralnick, Kenneth Foster, Diogo Luiz, 657193321, LEKSHMI M K, Matthew Morgan, Mano Tane (CC BY / CC0).

Gerbera, South Africa — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: Prince Molokomme, Robert Guralnick, Kenneth Foster, Diogo Luiz, 657193321, LEKSHMI M K, Matthew Morgan, Mano Tane (CC BY / CC0).

Gerbera care by growth stage

Greenhouse

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	10…20 °C	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	10…20 °C	potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 14 days into the stage; micronutrients, 28 days into the stage; potassium, 42 days into the stage; potassium, 56 days into the stage; potassium, 70 days into the stage; potassium, 84 days into the stage

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	—	potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 14 days into the stage; micronutrients, 28 days into the stage; potassium, 42 days into the stage; potassium, 56 days into the stage; potassium, 70 days into the stage; potassium, 84 days into the stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 3 days	10…20 °C	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage
Flowering	every 3 days	10…20 °C	potassium, at the start of the stage; potassium, 14 days into the stage; micronutrients, 28 days into the stage; potassium, 42 days into the stage; potassium, 56 days into the stage; potassium, 70 days into the stage; potassium, 84 days into the stage

Growing notes

Light

A warm, sunny spot; in hot climates morning sun and afternoon shade suit it better. Indoors a bright windowsill, but strong summer sun through glass can scorch it.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Wet soil rots the crown and roots, so in heavy ground use a raised bed or a pot. Gerberas are deep rooted, so pots should be deep, with gritty, free-draining compost, and never left standing in water.

Care

Plant out when nights stay above 5 °C, 30–45 cm apart, with the crown slightly above the soil so it stays dry. Water at the base early in the day and let the surface dry between waterings; keep the leaves and crown dry. Feed every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser — a high-potassium feed in summer boosts flowering — and give iron and manganese, which potted gerberas often lack. Indoors they flower best at 10–20 °C and pause outside that range. Remove faded flowers with the whole stem. Before nights fall below 5 °C bring plants into a cool (7–10 °C), bright, frost-free place and keep them on the dry side. Divide old clumps in early spring. Watch for whitefly, thrips, spider mites, leaf miners, grey mould and anthracnose. ASPCA lists gerbera as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses.

Pests and diseases of Gerbera

5 problems are recorded for gerbera; each has a page with symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Gerbera: all pests and diseases with photos

Diseases

Pests

Other plants of the Asteraceae family

Gerbera belongs to Asteraceae; 20 other plants of this family have a guide here.

Plant lists it is in

Part of: Garden flowers · Perennial garden flowers · Long-flowering plants

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.