Osteospermum

Sun-loving perennials or sub-shrubs, mainly from South Africa. Foliage, evergreen, scented and sometimes sticky to the touch. Flowers, large, daisy-like, often with a contrasting colour on the backs of the petals.

As with all 'daisy-like' flowers, the disc-flowers in the centre of the flowerhead produce nectar and pollen that are attractive to insects. The large flowers and long season of plants of this genus magnify the value of their flowers, especially for bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies. Some forms are now starting to appear outside of cultivation, especially in warmer locations: on brownfield sites in cities, and sometimes more widely in Cornwall. It would be prudent to try and ensure that plants remain within the confines of gardens.