Osteospermum jucundum (Phill.) T. Norl. 'White Moon'Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family / Compositae) |
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This striking groundcover is a delightful perennial with masses of large white daisy flowers throughout summer. It forms small clumps (±5 cm x 12 cm) of attractive lush green leaves. The leaves are linear (long and narrow with nearly parallel sides) with occasional irregular blunt teeth on the margins. The leaves and stems are covered with small white hairs.
Growing Osteospermum jucundum 'White Moon' Osteospermum jucundum 'White Moon' is a must have for every garden and especially for gardeners that love white flowers. It is easy to grow forming a tight, neat green carpet decorated with many pure white flowers throughout the summer. It must be planted in full sun and in fertile, well-composted soil where it receives regular watering throughout the year. Osteospermum jucundum 'White Moon' is most effective when planted in groups of at least 3 to 5 plants. At Kirstenbosch it is planted en masse to fill the gaps after the spring annuals have finished flowering, in small groups in the herbaceous borders and as a groundcover along the edges of paths. The dark green foliage contrasts beautifully with silver or grey foliage such as that of Plecostachys serpyllifolia. For an all white show in mid summer combine it with Wahlenbergia rivularis 'White Balloons', Salvia chamelaeagnea 'Summer Snow', Scabiosa incisa 'White Carpet' and Hebenstretia dura 'White Ribbons' - all special selections promoted by Kirstenbosch. These white flowers cool the warm summer days and are visible till late in the evening for visitors to enjoy. New plants of Osteospermum jucundum 'White Moon' can be propagated from cuttings that root well at any time of the year.
More about Osteospermum jucundum The identification and classification of the genera Osteospermum and Dimorphotheca is rather difficult and confusing. Osteospermum jucundum was previously described and is also known as Dimorphotheca jucunda of which only pink flowering forms have been described. There is now some dispute as to the correct identification of this plant, some botanists preferring to place it with the species Osteospermum caulescens that has white flowers. Until the dispute is resolved, we are sticking to the original identification. There are about 45 species of Osteospermum found in south and tropical Africa, St Helena, Somalia and SW Arabian Peninsula; 35 are found widespread throughout southern Africa. The common name of bergbietou or bloubietou (mountain bietou and blue bietou respectively) comes from bietou, the original Khoikhoi name first recorded in 1814 for a species of Osteospermum. Today bietou is very generally applied to many members of the daisy family, in particular Osteospermum and Dimorphotheca. It is usually applied with a qualifying prefix, to distinguish one from another, as in this case berg- (mountain) because it is found in the wild in the mountains, and blou- (blue) possibly because of the blue-black centres of the flowers of some colour forms or because it looks very similar to some species that have purplish-blue flowers. In some instances the name is used specifically for species that are toxic to livestock, and yet is also applied to others that are very palatable and highly nutritious, or at least non-toxic. Bietou has also given its name to a farm and the surrounding district, the Biedou, near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape. References:
Liesl van der Walt
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The flowers are held erect above the leaves, a single daisy at the
tip of a long, strong, flowering stem. The petals are pure white
almost shiny above and mauve with blue lines beneath. The disc-florets,
in the centre of the flower are tipped with black and open to bright
yellow. Each flower lasts for a few days and remains open during
the evenings and on cloudy days. Flowering starts in spring (August)
and continues through to autumn (March). This lovely plant was collected
in the Drakensberg where it grows in the rocky grasslands along
the mountain slopes.
