Guide to Growing Cape Daisy - Venidium

Plants belonging to the Venidium genus are half hardy annuals that range in height from 45 to 60cm.

Venidium have silver coloured lobed leaves and bloom in the summer carrying daisy like flowers of orange or yellow with black centres.

Some commonly grown garden Venidium include Cape Daisy, Namaqualand Daisy and Monarch of the Veldt.

Venidium - Namaqua-land Daisy by Nekonomania; Creative Commons.

Venidium fastuosum by Koizumi; Creative Commons.

Quick Venidium Growing Guide and Facts

Common Names: Cape Daisy, Monarch of the Veldt, Namaqua-land Daisy.
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual.
Height: 16 to 24 inches (40 to 60 cm).
Native: Southern Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 6 to 10.
Flowers: Summer.
Flower Details: White (brown and orange at the petal base), yellow, orange. Sunflower-like ray and disc florets.
Foliage: Deeply lobed.
Sow Outside: 1/8 inch (6 mm). Warm areas: late summer, autumn and/or winter. Spacing 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: one to two weeks. Temperature 60°F (16°C). Nine or ten weeks before expected last frost. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements: Full sunlight. Light soils. Dry soils. Provide support. Occasional light feed.

How to grow Cape Daisy

Unless you live in a warm area it is best to grow Cape Daisy indoors. Sow the seeds at a depth of 3mm about ten weeks before you expect the last frost of spring in your area. Cape Daisy seeds will take about one or two weeks to germinate at a temperature of 15 to 18 degrees centigrade. Transplant the cape daisy seedlings outdoors following the last frost at a spacing of 30cm. Ideally Venidium species should grow in a sunny part of the garden and in a dry and light soil.

Caring for Cape Daisies

Cape Daisies are pretty easy plants to look after, water sparingly as they prefer a dry soil, stake larger varieties of Venidium.