CAPE
MARIGOLD
Family COMPOSITAE
Dimorphotheca species
Annual
A race of South African annuals and perennials,
grown as half-hardy annuals, with strikingly beautiful
daisy-like flowers, also known as Star-of-the-Veldt.
The most important species is Dimorphotheca aurantiaca,
growing two feet high, with toothed foliage and
flowers of white, red, orange or yellow, opening
only in sun.
Dimorphotheca annua (syn. pluvialis) is rather
taller with flowers of white, sometime suffused
with purple or yellow.
Twisted petals characterise Dimorphotheca sinuata,
which is, otherwise, similar to Dimorphotheca
aurantiaca.
The garden hybrid known as Dimorphotheca calendulacea
has purple central discs with pale yellow rays.
Excellent subjects for positions in the flower
garden that are hot, dry and well exposed to the
sun.
Seed is sown out-of-doors in early April, the
seedlings thinned and allowed to flower without
further disturbance.
May also be raised from seed sown under glass,
temperature 55º to 65º F., in early
spring.
Propagate is from seed.
The flowering season is in May for Dimorphotheca
annua and from late June to September for the
remainder.
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