Barberton daisy
Gerbera jamesonii Adlam
Gerbera jamesonii (Barberton daisy), also called Gerbera or Transvaal daisy, is a perennial aster-family herb 20–50 cm tall; its leaves form a basal rosette and its large, colourful flower heads make it one of the world's most popular cut flowers.
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Gallery
Gerbera — fruiting head with fruitGerbera — flower
Gerbera — Barberton daisy flower
Gerbera — flower (close-up)
Gerbera — flower head
Gerbera — fruiting headGerbera — fruiting head with fruitGerbera — flowerOverview
Gerbera jamesonii, also called Barberton daisy, Gerbera daisy or Transvaal daisy, is a **perennial** herb of the aster family (Asteraceae), genus Gerbera, 20–50 cm tall. Its **leaves form a basal rosette**; the blade is oblong-lanceolate, lobed or toothed and often softly **hairy beneath**. The **flower head** is borne singly on a long stalk, 7–12 cm across, with many layers of **ray florets** in red, orange, yellow, pink, white or purple around a **disc of yellow-brown tubular florets**. The **fruit is a small achene** with a tuft of hairs (pappus) that aids wind dispersal.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/13/2026
Gerbera jamesonii is native to **South Africa** (the Barberton area of Mpumalanga and Eswatini) and has been widely hybridised and grown worldwide as a **cut flower and ornamental**. It is one of the best-selling cut flowers thanks to its large, colourful and long-lasting heads. The flowers attract **bees and butterflies**. It has not been assessed by the IUCN and is therefore listed as Not Evaluated (NE).
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/13/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productYoung plant & leaves
Young plants grow from seed or division, forming a **basal rosette of leaves** near the ground.
Growth & budding
Leaves thicken; upright stalks rise bearing a **flower bud** at the tip.
Flowering
The large **flower head** opens with many layers of vivid **ray florets** around a yellow-brown **disc**; it attracts pollinators.
Fruiting & dispersal
After flowering, **achenes** with a pappus form; the seeds are **wind-dispersed**.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- South Africa & Eswatini (native)25%
- Europe (cultivated)25%
- Asia (cultivated)25%
- North America (cultivated)15%
- Elsewhere (cultivated)10%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- FlavonoidsFlower pigments and antioxidant25%
- CarotenoidsYellow-orange colour of the rays20%
- AnthocyaninsRed, pink and purple tones20%
- Essential oil (terpenes)Light floral aroma15%
- CoumarinsSecondary compounds of the genus Gerbera10%
- MineralsPresent in stems and leaves10%
Uses
- Cut flowers: its **large, lasting and multicoloured heads** make it one of the world's best-selling cut flowers.
- Landscaping: grown in pots, flower beds and borders in gardens and parks.
- Decoration: used in floral art and as gifts for its symmetrical heads.
- Ecology: the flowers attract **bees and butterflies** in the garden.
- Economy: an important cut-flower crop in many countries, also grown in greenhouses.
Properties
- Morphology
- Basal rosette; **large multi-layered flower heads**
- Colour
- Very varied: red, orange, yellow, pink, white, purple
- Ecology
- Sun-loving, fairly drought-tolerant, needs drainage
- Ornamental
- Long-lasting cut flower, a top seller
Habitat & conservation
Gerbera jamesonii prefers **full sun** and a warm climate with loose, well-drained soil; it tolerates drought reasonably well but not waterlogging. Native to the Barberton area of South Africa and Eswatini, it is now widely grown in gardens, pots and greenhouses in many temperate and subtropical countries.
Conservation
Gerbera jamesonii is not threatened; it is a widely grown and hybridised ornamental. It has not been assessed by the IUCN and is therefore listed as Not Evaluated (NE). Family Asteraceae, genus Gerbera. Value: cut flowers, ornamentals and nectar for insects.
References
- 1POWO — Gerbera jamesonii Adlam — Plants of the World Online (Kew), 2026
- 2GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Gerbera jamesonii Adlam (key 7969761) — GBIF, 2026
- 3Wikipedia EN — Gerbera jamesonii — Wikipedia EN, 2026
- 4Wikipedia VI — Cúc đồng tiền — Wikipedia VI, 2026
- 5Wikipedia ZH — 非洲菊 — Wikipedia ZH, 2026
- 6Ảnh: BarbertonDaisy; Barberton Daisy flower; Close-ups of Gerbera flowers — Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons, 2026
- 7Ảnh: Gerbera jamesonii fruiting head 1-7285 & 1-7286 — Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons, 2026