Gerberas - More Than a Daisy

If flowers were food,
Gerberas would be haute cuisine.

With perfect form, not a petal out of place, and regal bearing, the Gerbera outranks other daisy-type flowers. It blooms in a festival of luminous color, from creamy pastels to hot and spicy. An eye-stopping focal flower, just three stems in a vase has high impact.

About ten years ago, plant breeders introduced the mini Gerbera, a smaller, hybridized version of the Gerbera. This flower possesses many of the qualities of its larger relative, but some unique benefits give it a floral image all its own. Because of its size, about two and a half inches in diameter, the mini Gerbera can add color in a floral piece without "out focusing" attention on itself.

"This flower has a round, pleasing shape and works wonderfully in specialty work like weddings, where its size is proportional to a bouquet," says Tom Bowling, AIFD, PFCI, Fairfield, Ohio and a member of CCFC's Outreach and Education Team.

The mini Gerbera works well in many design styles, mixing easily with other flowers including roses, lilies, cymbidiums, and exotics such as bird of paradise. It is very popular in Europe for bouquets of all kinds, in all seasons. In Japan, it is in demand for the architectural designs of ikebana. The mini Gerbera can be dressed down for casual occasions, or dressed up for a special appearance. "It is easy to work with and very accommodating," says Bowling."

Because of their color range and usefulness in bouquets, matching Gerberas and mini Gerberas is a growing trend for weddings. Like the Gerbera, mini Gerberas are available in decorator colors of cream, yellow, pink, peach, orange and red. Ever-Bloom, Inc., Carpinteria, Calif., the largest U.S. grower of Gerbera, grows about 40 varieties of mini Gerbera and 200 varieties of Gerbera. Nearly 20 other growers across the state also produce Gerberas, making it one of California 's most popular flowers.

With impeccable beauty in a wealth of colors, both of these flowers command a high perceived value among consumers. Technically, they are daisies. In actuality, they are in a class of their own.

Common name: Gerbera jamesonii, Transvaal daisy, miniature gerbera
Botanical: Gerbera spp.
Available: year-round Storage: 36° - 38° F
Leave flowers in packing trays while conditioning to prevent bent-neck. Place trays over buckets of clean water for about two hours. Use preservative made specifically for Gerberas. Fluoride in water may cause brown spotting in some varieties.

Grower tip: Clean water and containers are absolutely essential to avoid clogged stems and bent neck. Do not mix with other flowers in containers while storing.

Back to Design Ideas