Gerbera gossypina : Eye-catching Hairy gerbera daisies

Do you know? Gerbera gossypina and hairy gerbera daisies describe the same plant species. You can see its unique appearance through its fluffy or hairy leaves. These daisies have become more famous for their unusual beauty when you compare them with other gerbera species.

Before we get to know about its natural appearance, we have to know its botanical name. Its botanical name is Oreoseris gossypina. This plant belongs to the Asteraceae family. Widely known for the sunflower family.

You can find this slender and herbaceous plant on the grassy and open slopes of the Himalayas. The flower head resembles a daisy. It is usually white with an undertone of pink in appearance.

Above the leaves, you can see this daisy growing on a long cotton leafless stem. Generally, its blooming season is between March and June and is found in the elevation of the Himalayan region between 1200-2400 m.

Structure of Gerbera gossypina

You can feel it is unique in structure because the stem of Gerbera gossypina is long and slender size up to 6-8 inches. Throughout its length, you can’t see any leaves, leaves are present at the base of the stem. The size of leaves varies from 2-6 inches in length and 0.5-3 inches in width.

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Usually, at the top of the stem, you can see a single flower that has a central disc surrounded by multiple florets.

The petals of the florets are usually white and lightly pink. The flower has a ring of bracts at its base which will play an important part in protecting the developing flower buds.

The structure of Gerbera gossypina is always unique and special in its structure.

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What are the common names for Gerbera gossypina?

Generally, Gerbera gossypina is called hairy gerbera daisies but sometimes it is widely known in India as Kupheru, Jhulu, or Kapas.

How to grow Gerbera gossypina?

Your garden needs to have such a beautiful plant. You need to give some attention to its growing process. With the right care and attention, you can enjoy its fuzzy leaves and stems in the center of the garden

Propagate Gerbera gossypina

There are three major methods to propagate gerbera gossypina:

Division method:

It is one of the simplest ways to propagate gerbera gossypina. What you need to do is that you should dig up the plant. After that, you should carefully separate the roots into individual parts. But keep in mind that the part must have both roots and leaves. The next step is to plant that part in well-draining soil and water it once a week until it establishes itself.

Seed propagation method:

You can collect the seeds from the matured blooms and then plant them in a good quality of soil. Furthermore, you need to water them and make sure to give them proper sunlight. It is possible to see seedlings sprouting within the period of two to three weeks.

Stem cutting method:

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For this process, you need healthy stem cutting from the plant. But the stem cutting must have at least two to three leaves. Afterward, you must dip them in the rooting hormone. Following that, planting them in pots with well-draining soil is important. As we previously said, water them properly and make them receive proper sunlight. You will see its new roots from the cutting within a few weeks.

Find the right spot

You should find the spot where hairy gerbera daisies can receive complete sunlight exposure to partial shade . Because it will flourish in full sunlight. Well-draining soil is essential for its additional growth. PH level of soil should be around 6.0 to 7.5 .

Watering process

Even though, you can experience gerbera gossypina which is capable of handling periods of drought, it still needs water regularly. If you want them to grow well, you have to water them once a week( let the soil dry out a little during the process).

Use light fertilizer

You know what? Gerbera gossypina does not need a lot of fertilizer. The reason for using light fertilizer is that it can cause excessive foliage development at the cost of flower output. Therefore, you may use fertilizer once a month during the growing season. (But keep in mind that using balanced and water-soluble fertilizer is important.)

Remove the deadheads regularly

If you want them to bloom continuously, you have to deadhead them regularly. Through the process of simply removing them at the base, you can promote its new flower growth.

Proper protection from the pests

Whatever plant you want to grow, protection from the pest is important, gerbera gossypina is not an exceptional one. Sometimes it may be affected by aphids and spider mites.

So you should watch them carefully regarding any signs of pest infestation. If you find anything, you must follow appropriate measures to protect the daisies by using gentle insecticidal soap or neem oil. By following the above tips, you can simply grow Gerbera gossypina in your garden

What are the uses of hairy gerbera daisies?

• It is the standard choice when you want to make floral beauty and charm. You can see them in many floral arrangements and gardens due to their appearances.
• Gerbera gossypina is a memorable option for parties, weddings, and regular home decor. Sometimes it is useful to add beauty to the bouquets when you put them in centerpieces.
• Many people use gerbera gossypina for the art of natural dyeing due to its natural color. The textile artist considers it an eco-friendly color for their outfit. By extracting pigment from the petals, you can create lovely colors to dye yarns and fabrics.
• On the whole, the hairy gerbera daisies will grab the attention of the viewers when you pair them with other flowers.

You can see visual of plants from our youtube video

Is gerbera gossypina a medicinal plant?

Many people still believe that Gerbera gossypina has a unique medicinal quality. It has a compound that is useful for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Some native people suggest that extract from Gerbera gossypina is good for skin health and wound healing. (Still, we do not have proper research regarding its medicinal usage. So please do not use it without a doctor’s help).

Why is Gerbera gossypina important?

We all know that gerbera gossypina has some aesthetic appeal. Beyond that truth, it is considered it play an important role in the ecosystem as a pollinator attractant. Therefore, it is helping to facilitate the important process of pollination.

Final words

Even though many of you do not know about Gerbera gossypina, it continuously gives benefits to the people and diversity of plant species .