The South African daisy is a popular cultivated plant, which has been planted widely in gardens, in soft areas along roads and in other public places in recent years. So I was not too surprised when I saw it growing profusely along the side of several country roads near Rabat.
The South African daisy is one of several species of related daisies originating in southern Africa.
In Malta, the South African daisy propagates from seed and it can easily spread into the countryside
It is usually found in high altitudes as it is most adapted to live between 1,000 and 3,000 metres above sea level.
Plants can be annuals or perennials. They survive the colder parts of the year as seeds in areas where the ground freezes, but in milder climates they can live for several years.
This species of daisy can grow up to half a metre and the flowers have a typical daisy shape. In wild plants these are pink with a yellow disc with a blue centre.
Cultivated varieties have large flowers which range in colour from white to violet and some varieties have spoon-shaped petals. Many varieties are being created every year.
In Malta, the South African daisy propagates from seed andit can easily spread into the countryside. Introduced species can spread very fast and outnumber indigenous ones.
In fact, the most common plant in the Maltese countryside, the Cape sorrel, known in Maltese as Ħaxixa ngliża, is also a native of South Africa. It was introduced in Malta about 200 years ago as a garden plant but soon escaped into the countryside and spread throughout the Maltese islands. It is now found in most Mediterranean countries.
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