Gerbera
Gerbera jamesonii
Also called Barberton daisy, Transvaal daisy, Gerber daisy and African daisy
Houseplant · FloweringWATER THE COMPOST, NEVER THE CROWN. It is sold in flower as a gift and dies of crown rot within weeks, because the centre of that flat rosette holds water and nothing dries it. Water from the side, or from below.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 5 daysFrom below — stand the pot in a couple of centimetres of water.
- Light
- Bright, with some direct sun
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Tender — no frost at all RHS H2, to 1°C
- Size
- 0.4 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- South Africa
Is it safe for pets and people?
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
ASPCA lists Gerbera jamesonii by exact binomial, three times over — as "African Daisy", "Barberton Daisy" and "Gerber Daisy" — as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Checked against ASPCA on 2026-09-22.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The whole plant collapses at once and the base of the leaf rosette is brown and soft where it meets the compost. Water sat in the crown — this is the way almost every gift gerbera dies, and it is watering from above that does it.Crown rot · disease
- White dust on the flat leaves pressed against the compost, worst in a still room. Take the worst leaves off at the base rather than shortening them.Powdery mildew · disease