While native to warmer climates, Gerberas can thrive in the UK with the right care — and with a little extra attention, you can extend their blooming season well into autumn. Here’s everything you need to know.
Gerberas (Gerbera jamesonii), also known as Transvaal daisies, are known for their stunning range of colours, from fiery reds and oranges to soft pinks and whites. They’re perfect for cutting gardens (they make long-lasting cut flowers), patio pots, indoor displays and for adding a splash of colour to perennial borders.
To grow Gerberas successfully in the UK, you’ll need to mimic their ideal conditions as much as possible. Plant Gerberas after the last frost, typically around late April to early May, allowing about 30cm (12 inches) between plants to ensure good airflow. If you are planting them in pots, use pots with excellent drainage and avoid saucers that hold standing water.
Light
- Gerberas love sunshine! Choose a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
- If growing indoors, place them near a south-facing window.
Temperature
- They prefer warm days and cool nights.
- Hardy varieties like Gerbera ‘Everlast’ or ‘Garvinea’ can survive outdoors in milder UK areas, but most types are best treated as annuals or overwintered indoors.
Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil is essential. Improve heavy clay with grit or compost.
- A neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0–6.5) is ideal.
Watering
- Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
- Avoid wetting the crown to reduce the risk of rot.
- During hot weather, water in the morning to allow any moisture on the leaves to evaporate.
To enjoy continuous colour throughout summer and into autumn, be sure to remove spent blooms to encourage new flowers. Cut the flower stem at the base rather than just the flower head. Feed fortnightly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser (like tomato feed) every two weeks from spring through late summer to boost flowering. Mulch with compost or bark to retain moisture and suppress weeds, especially during dry spells.
Gerberas can be slug magnets, especially young plants, so you may want to use slug pellets or beer traps, and while they like sun, Gerberas don’t like strong winds, so shelter them with taller plants or a garden screen.
When summer ends be prepared to take care of them. You might want to lift and pot up in autumn, keeping them in a cool, bright room with minimal watering to avoid the frost. If you have one, a frost-free greenhouse is also perfect. Some Garvinea Gerberas are hardy to -5°C and with mulch, they can overwinter in sheltered spots.
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