Gazania hybrid 'Double Gold'

Treasure Flower / Gazania ‘Double Gold’

Botanical Name: Gazania hybrid ‘Double Gold’ (GT20)
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Hybrid of South African species; sterile garden selection
Plant Type: Evergreen to short-lived perennial groundcover (prostrate, spreading)

Overview

A sun-loving, heat-hardy gazania selected for carpets of golden, semi-double daisies that open in sun from spring through autumn (often year-round on the Adelaide Plains). Dense, matt-forming foliage knits quickly, making it ideal for verges, embankments, rockeries and coastal gardens. The sterile flowers don’t set seed, so it’s showy without becoming weedy—perfect for SA’s Mediterranean climate.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.15–0.25 m H × 0.6–1.2(–1.5) m W (spread)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 (spread) cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Mid- to grey-green, slightly fleshy leaves with silvery undersides; forms tight rosettes/mats
• Flowers: Rich golden yellow, semi-double daisies; open in bright sun, close in dull light; peak spring–autumn
  
• Seasonal Interest: Extra-long flowering; silvery foliage adds contrast year-round
• Wildlife Value: Nectar/pollen for bees and beneficial insects (low seed set = low weed risk)
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established, heat- and wind-tolerant, front-line coastal OK (salt & sand), light frost tolerant; poor/lean soils fine; clay-tolerant if raised/mounded and well-drained
• Planting Density: Mass cover: 6–9 plants/m² (closer for faster knit); Edging/retaining wall spill-over: 3 per metre; Between pavers: 6–8 plants per linear metre
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic to cats & dogs (any plant ingestion may upset tummies)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (essential for best flowering)
• Soil: Free-draining sands or sandy/loam; thrives on neutral–alkaline (calcareous) Adelaide soils; raise/mound on heavy clay to keep crowns dry in winter
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 3–4 weeks in summer (weekly in heatwaves); little to none in winter once established
• Maintenance: Deadhead or light shear after major flushes to keep tidy and reblooming; avoid heavy fertiliser (makes it lank); patch gaps easily with cuttings/division
• Lifespan: 3–5(+) years in well-drained sites (easy to renew from cuttings)
• Climate Zones: Temperate & Mediterranean SA—excellent on Adelaide Plains and coastal suburbs; in the Hills, choose the sunniest, free-draining spot and protect from hard frosts
• Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline (tolerates slightly acidic if very free-draining)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Sun-baked verges, roundabouts and embankments
• Rockeries, retaining walls & spill-over edges for golden ribbons of colour
• Coastal gardens with westringia, lomandra and other water-wise plants
• Between stepping stones/gravel for a tough, low-care accent

Why You Will Love It

Huge golden colour with tiny water bills—a sterile, non-seeding gazania that laughs at Adelaide sun, salt and heat, knits quickly, and stays showy with just an occasional shear.