With all bright colors, from yellow to pink, red to orange etcetera, Gerberas evoke happiness. Gerberas are perennial flowering plants with large capitulum and 2 lipped ray florets. The capitulum of the flower appears as a single flower, but it is actually hundreds of individual flowers.
Flower comes from the family of Sunflowers, Daisies and Asters. The Gerbera has a wide distribution from Africa to Madagascar, tropical Asia and South America. Gerberas are available in a large scale of colors.
The meanings of the Gerbera flowers include: innocence and purity, and daisies are also symbolic to beauty. However the Gerbera holds a meaning of cheer, which derives from the assortment of colors available.
The Gerbera is a very commercial flower and is the 5th most cut flower worldwide (after the rose, carnation, chrysanthemum and tulip). This plant joins bees, butterflies and birds.
Interesting Facts about Gerberas
• Gerberas have a long flower vase life and are great to add some color to any room or garden.
• Gerberas are also known as Gerbera Daisies.
• Gerbera flowers usually measure approx. 7 inches (17.8cm) across.
• Gerbera Daisies come in a large assortment of colors; from yellow to orange, pink, red, white and many more beautiful bright colors.
Various Form of Gerbera Flowers
Gerberas are categorized in 4 different groups depending on their forms;
• Single Flowers – This type of Gerbera has non-overlapping petals with a green center. These are the most common found in the market.
• Double or Duplex – This type of Gerbera has a double row of overlapping petals with a green, black, or dark red eye.
• Crested Doubles – The Crested doubles have two rows of overlapping petals, containing one or more inner rows of petals with green, black or dark red eye.
• Full Crested Doubles – This type of Gerbera has solid overlapping rows of petals with an inner row diminishing in size, covering completely the eye.
Growing Gerberas
One of the cheapest ways to produce Gerberas is from the seed. After planting the Gerbera seeds into a proper medium, make sure that you do not keep it dry, especially when the Gerberas are growing. When watering Gerberas, it is important that you add some water to the drain out of the pot. The Gerbera seeds must be planted in small pots, until they get big enough to transfer them into flower beds.
