Gazania rigens Enorma Mix seeds - Treasure flower

The Gazania Enorma Mix is a collection of six hybrid varieties selected for their ornamental qualities and cultivation resilience. This seed mix, to be sown in late winter under warm cover, produces compact young plants, equally attractive when planted directly in the garden soil as they are potted in containers or planters. From late spring to early autumn, they produce impressive diameter compound flowers in coordinated shades ranging from white to red, through various yellows and oranges. The flowering is particularly enhanced by the beautiful, satiny dark green foliage. This heat-resistant mix is ideal for generous flowering throughout summer.

Gazania is a member of the Asteraceae family, formerly known as Compositae, which aptly describes the structure of the flowers, which are actually inflorescences (heads) composed of tubular flowers at the centre and ligulate ones on the periphery. It is the second largest plant family, just behind Orchids, hosting many wild, aromatic, and of course ornamental plants, such as Dahlias, Anthemis, or the Everlasting flower (Helichrysum). There are 18 species of Gazania, native to South Africa, which form perennial clumps with evergreen foliage in Mediterranean climates (deciduous in cooler regions). It is a sun-loving plant that needs full sun to flower well (the flowers close in overcast weather) and is fairly drought-tolerant. Gazania rigens, the species most used in horticulture and worked on by breeders, is also known as G. splendens, Gorteria rigens, or othonna rigens.
The Enorma Mix series was launched on the market in 2017 by the company Hem Genetics after very interesting selection work. This work focused on flower size, which here reaches 10 to 12 cm in diameter, significantly more than traditional varieties. The Enorma Mix combines the six varieties of the series: vanilla flower with orange-yellow centre, yellow flower with orange centre, yellow flower whose orange centre is edged with a brown band (which actually corresponds to the base of the ligulate flowers, making them bicolour), orange flower with orange centre, orange flower with orange centre edged with brown, and red flower with orange-yellow centre edged with dark brown. These very attractive flowers are borne on short, sturdy stems, very resistant to climatic factors. Furthermore, the breeders have produced a plant with smooth, dark green foliage, with a satiny to glossy appearance, instead of the usual greyish foliage. The latter is covered with small hairs that allow the Gazania to capture air humidity in the hot, dry regions of South Africa. This ecological adaptation, however, becomes a disadvantage in our northern regions, as excess water can then cause rot. The smooth foliage of the Enorma varieties is not only aesthetic, forming a true dark setting for the brightly coloured flowers, but it also allows rainwater or morning dew to drain away easily.
Sown in late winter under warm cover, the fast-growing young plants produce clumps reaching a maximum of 25 to 30 cm in height and 30 to 35 cm in width, making them suitable for planting in containers as well as directly in garden soil. In all cases, a very sunny location will be required for the flowers to bloom to their fullest. The solitary flowers are renewed from May to October, all the more easily if care is taken to remove spent flowers and apply liquid fertiliser regularly during the season.

The Gazania rigens Enorma Mix seeds will decorate your garden easily and inexpensively for many long months. In Mediterranean regions, the plant behaves as a perennial and will flower year after year, forming large clumps. You can combine it with other Mediterranean perennials to create superb, varied borders. Blue Agathea will be a perfect companion to occupy the edge of your border, where its small blue flowers will contrast with the warm tones of your Gazanias. In the second row, Agapanthus will raise their bunches of flowers in sometimes unreal white, blue, or purple tones in summer. Euryops pectinatus will provide an architectural contrast with its ball-shaped habit covered in yellow flowers throughout the season. In the background, plant a few mild-climate bushes like Callistemon or Bottlebrush with its astonishing bottlebrush-like inflorescences.