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Trailing Gazania

Gazania rigens

Trailing Gazania

A South African groundcover with brilliant yellow daisy-like flowers that may die if overwatered.

Hardy in USDA zones 9-11 and evergreen in low-desert winters, it takes light frost to the mid-20s°F but is far more sensitive to overwatering than to cold or heat.

AMWUA Notes

A low-water color groundcover that thrives on neglect; its main failure mode is too much water rather than too little.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Water every 10-14 days once established and allow the soil to dry between; overwatering and poor drainage are the most common cause of sudden collapse.

✂️Pruning

Shear off spent flowers and thin out any dead center in the mat every year or two to keep it fresh; replant patches that die out.

🌱Fertilizing

Needs little to no fertilizer; a single light spring feeding is more than enough for bloom.

🛡️Pests

Watch for crown and root rot in wet soil, plus occasional aphids on flower buds.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Peak bloom is late winter into spring with scattered color afterward; foliage can burn in hard frost but the low mat usually resprouts.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Best in light, sandy, well-drained soils; tolerates poor and rocky ground but declines in heavy clay or constantly moist beds.

💧Drainage

Needs well-drained soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Low feeder.

🌰Propagation

Division of established clumps or cuttings for named colors; the species also grows from seed.

📐Spacing

1.5-2 ft on center for a knitting color mat

🌳Roots & Placement

Shallow, non-invasive roots; prone to crown and root rot where drainage or air movement is poor.

Placement Tips

  • •Space 18-24 in apart for a fast-knitting color mat along walks and bed edges.
  • •Effective on gentle sunny slopes and berms with sharp drainage.
  • •Use as a low front-of-border ribbon of color that stays under a foot tall.
  • •Give it full, hot sun; it thins and stops blooming in any shade.

Features

Brilliant yellow flowersLate winter bloomsDrought tolerantLow-growing mat

Best Uses

Color groundcoverBorder edgingMass planting

Ecological Value

Attracts

beesbutterflies

Wildlife Value

cover habitat

Quick Stats

Water NeedsLow
Sun Exposurefull sun
Mature Size1 ft H × 3 ft W
Growth Ratemoderate
Maintenancelow
HardinessUSDA 9-11
FoliageEvergreen
Drainagewell-drained
Bloom SeasonLate winter-spring
Bloom ColorYellow
Litter Levellow
ThornsNone
Native RegionSouth Africa

Design Styles

mediterraneanlow maintenance

Include in Your Project

Love Trailing Gazania? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.

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Use this care guide to maintain your Trailing Gazania. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.

Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.

Trailing Gazania — common questions

Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.

How much water does Trailing Gazania need in Phoenix?

Trailing Gazania is a low-water groundcover once established. Water every 10-14 days once established and allow the soil to dry between; overwatering and poor drainage are the most common cause of sudden collapse. A low-water color groundcover that thrives on neglect; its main failure mode is too much water rather than too little.

How big does Trailing Gazania get?

Expect roughly 1 ft tall and 3 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 1.5-2 ft on center for a knitting color mat of spacing when planting. Shallow, non-invasive roots; prone to crown and root rot where drainage or air movement is poor.

Can you plant Trailing Gazania near a pool?

Yes. Trailing Gazania is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.

Can Trailing Gazania handle Arizona heat and winter frost?

Trailing Gazania is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 9-11 and evergreen in low-desert winters, it takes light frost to the mid-20s°F but is far more sensitive to overwatering than to cold or heat. Peak bloom is late winter into spring with scattered color afterward; foliage can burn in hard frost but the low mat usually resprouts.

Does Trailing Gazania have thorns?

No. Trailing Gazania is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.

Is Trailing Gazania safe around pets?

Trailing Gazania is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.

When does Trailing Gazania bloom in Arizona?

Trailing Gazania blooms in late winter-spring, with yellow flowers. The bloom draws bees, butterflies.

How much maintenance does Trailing Gazania need?

Trailing Gazania is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Shear off spent flowers and thin out any dead center in the mat every year or two to keep it fresh; replant patches that die out.

What kind of soil does Trailing Gazania need?

Best in light, sandy, well-drained soils; tolerates poor and rocky ground but declines in heavy clay or constantly moist beds. Nutrient needs are low. Needs little to no fertilizer; a single light spring feeding is more than enough for bloom.

Is Trailing Gazania native to Arizona?

No. Trailing Gazania is not an Arizona native; it originates from the South Africa, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.