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Image of Gerbera jamesonii Barberton Daisy

Barberton daisy

Gerbera jamesonii, family Asteraceae

The bright daisy from South Africa, ancestor of all cultivated gerberas

Photo: Rooivos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Barberton daisy is a perennial herb native to South Eastern Africa, known for its large and colourful daisy-like flowers. It grows on rocky woodland slopes and is the wild parent of the many gerbera hybrids now popular worldwide as ornamental flowers.

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  • Native to Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Eswatini in South Eastern Africa
  • Wild parent of all cultivated gerbera hybrids worldwide
  • Flowers are usually orange-red, but can also be yellow, white, or pink
  • Appears on the flag and coat of arms of Mpumalanga province
  • Grows on rocky woodland slopes, often in some shade

What does Barberton daisy look like?

Barberton daisy is a tufted perennial herb with a rosette of deeply lobed leaves, each 15–68 cm long. Its leafless flower stalks can reach up to 75 cm high, topped by a single daisy-like flower head about 4–5 cm across. The most common flower colour is orange-red, but yellow, white, pink, and orange forms also occur. The flowers are made up of many slender ray florets, giving a bright, bold look.

Where does Barberton daisy come from?

This species is native to the rocky woodland slopes of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and Eswatini in South Eastern Africa. It grows at elevations between 500 and 1670 metres, often in partial shade under trees or bushes. The plant was first described scientifically in the late 19th century, after being collected near Barberton. Its genus was named for the botanist Traugott Gerber, and the species for Robert Jameson, who found it in the wild.

When and how Barberton daisy blooms

Barberton daisy flowers from September to December in its native range. It reproduces asexually and produces seeds with bristles that help them disperse on the wind. The plant is usually grown from seed or by tissue culture. In the wild, it prefers well-drained, rocky soils and some shade. Its flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects.

South Africa, Mpumalanga, Louw's Creek.
South Africa, Mpumalanga, Louw's Creek.. Photo: Alexey Yakovlev, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera Daisy. Photo: 阿橋 HQ, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera Daisy. Photo: 阿橋 HQ, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red Pink Daisy Flower
Red Pink Daisy Flower. Photo: ForestWander, CC BY-SA 3.0 us, via Wikimedia Commons

How Barberton daisy is used

Barberton daisy is the original wild parent of all cultivated gerbera hybrids, which are now major ornamental crops worldwide. The wild species itself is grown in gardens and as a cut flower. In its native region, it is also used as a symbol, appearing on the flag and coat of arms of Mpumalanga province.

Kinds of Barberton daisy

Thousands of gerbera cultivars now exist, most descended from crosses between Barberton daisy and Gerbera viridifolia. Popular cultivated varieties include 'Sazou', 'Sangria', 'Rosalin', 'Pink Elegance', and others, offering a wide range of colours and forms. The wild species, however, is most often orange-red.

What Barberton daisy means

Barberton daisy is an important symbol in South Africa, especially in Mpumalanga where it appears on the provincial flag and coat of arms. As the ancestor of all garden gerberas, it has played a key role in horticulture. Its bright flowers are valued for home decoration and as cut flowers.

Where Barberton daisy is used and seen

BouquetA creative arrangement of flowers, given or displayed for many occasionsCut flowersFresh flowers and buds trimmed for decoration and displayFloral industryThe global trade and business of growing, selling, and arranging flowers

Questions people ask about Barberton daisy

Where does Barberton daisy come from?

Barberton daisy is native to the rocky woodland slopes of Mpumalanga and Limpopo in South Africa, and Eswatini. It grows at elevations from 500 to 1670 metres, often in partial shade under trees or bushes.

What does Barberton daisy look like?

It is a tufted perennial with deeply lobed leaves in a rosette and tall, leafless stalks topped by single daisy-like flowers. The flowers are usually orange-red, but can also be yellow, white, or pink, and are about 4–5 cm across.

What is Barberton daisy used for?

Barberton daisy is grown in gardens and as a cut flower. It is the wild ancestor of all cultivated gerbera hybrids, which are now among the most important ornamental flowers worldwide.

Does Barberton daisy have any cultural significance?

Yes, it is a symbol of Mpumalanga province in South Africa, appearing on the provincial flag and coat of arms. It is also valued as the ancestor of all modern gerbera cultivars.

When does Barberton daisy flower?

In its native range in South Africa, Barberton daisy flowers from September to December, which covers the spring and early summer months.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Gerbera jamesonii", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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