Gerbera

gerbera with grasses


Common name:  Gerbera

Botanical Names: African daisy

Origin: South Africa and Asia

Colours: almost every colour except blue

The Gerbera is a very popular cut flower.  It is loved for it’s daisy like appearance and the wonderful colours it comes in.  It has a contemporary look with its simple flower head and leafless stem.  Gerberas were discovered in South Africa and brought to the UK in the 1800s, named after the German naturalist Traugott Gerber.

They are the fifth most popular flower sold at the Dutch flower auctions and available all year round.  Gerberas are cultivated all over the world and there are now over 200 varieties.  Each with their own name.  A few of them are spongebob a yellowy pom pom variety, Serena a vibrant cerise colour and kimsey a pale pink germini. There are several types of gerbera including double petalled flowers, spider gerberas and frilly petalled varieties.

gerberas

Mini gerberas or germinis are also popular especially with florists as they are perfect for using in smaller arrangements.  Gerberas come in every colour imaginable apart from blue.  From white and creams, through to pinks, red and oranges.  There are even some terracotta colours gerberas.  The bright colours are very popular as cut flowers for the home, but most florists usually stock an assortment of colours.

Gerberas have a vase life between 4-14 days.  The conditions they are kept in will greatly affect their longevity.  Gerberas from a florist will be properly conditioned before sold which also helps them to last better.  Often the stems are wired, this is important because when they are transported from growers out of water the stems become flaccid, but once gerberas start to take up water they become turgid.  At this point the flower head will set in that position so it needs to start in an upright position.  They are also very sensitive to bacteria so vases should always be properly cleaned before use with gerbera and flower food added to the water.

I use gerberas in all aspects of work, the large gerberas are good value as the heads are so big while germinis are perfect for smaller work where a large gerbera might look out of place.  As they come in such a vast array of colours there is always a gerbera to match the look you are trying to achieve.  The vibrant gerberas in hot pinks and oranges are perfect for exotic looking themes. While the pale pastel shades such as bridal Kimsey, a very pink germini are beautiful in wedding work.

gerbera wreath

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