Growing African Daisy: A Complete Profile
By Growing Home Greens Team · August 19, 2026
African daisy is a quick, low annual that gets from seed to flower in about two months and keeps going from spring through fall.
Two plants share this name
The one grown from seed on a rack is Dimorphotheca sinuata, an annual. The perennial sold in nursery pots under the same common name is usually Osteospermum, a different genus with different hardiness. This profile and our calendar cover the annual. If you bought a plant rather than a packet, check the label before assuming these dates apply.
Closing at night is not a problem
The flowers shut at night and on overcast days, then reopen in sun. This is normal for the species and not a sign of stress, underwatering, or disease. It does mean the plant looks its worst on exactly the grey days when you most want colour.
It grows almost anywhere for one season
NC State Extension lists it across zones 2a through 11b, which is a way of saying that as a summer annual it does not much care where you are. It wants full sun, six or more hours, and it stays between four and twelve inches tall, so it slots into a front row or a border square without shading anything.
At two plants per square foot in our spacing model and 60 days to first flower, it is a reasonable filler for a square that opens up mid-season after an early crop comes out. Pair it with something taller behind rather than beside, since it will not compete for light.
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Dimorphotheca sinuata.
Companion planting guide for African Daisy · Find your planting dates
Typically viable in USDA zones 2-11. Not sure your zone? Look it up by ZIP code.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. African Daisy doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
See exact start-indoors, direct-sow, and harvest dates for your zone →
How many African Daisy plants fit per square foot?
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Where to buy african daisy seeds
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing african daisy" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing African Daisy: A fast four to twelve inch annual that flowers spring through fall and closes its petals at night.
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