Gazanias are known for their brightly colored daisy-like flowers and drought tolerance, The New Day Tiger Mix gazania stands out with its bold red and pink stripes on a yellow base, This striking flower has become increasingly popular with home gardeners and landscapers alike,

What is New Day Tiger Mix Gazania?

New Day Tiger Mix is a gazania hybrid developed by breeders to have larger blooms, shorter flower stalks, and sturdier plant habits than older varieties. It’s a mix of two striped gazania cultivars – New Day Red Stripe and New Day Rose Stripe.

Red Stripe has rich red stripes on golden yellow petals while Rose Stripe has deep pink stripes on yellow. Together they create a vibrant bicolor effect.

Key Features and Benefits

• Large blooms – Flowers can grow up to 3 inches across, much bigger than older gazania varieties. The bold stripes are eye-catching in gardens and containers.

• Well-branched, compact growth – Plants reach 8-10 inches tall and spread 6-8 inches wide. They have a mounded, compact form with ample branching.

• Continuous color – New Day gazanias bloom prolifically from late spring through summer. Deadheading spent flowers promotes new blooms.

• Withstands heat and drought – Once established, these gazanias are quite drought tolerant. Their flowers stay open and colorful even in full sun and summer heat.

• Low maintenance – Gazanias thrive with minimal care. Other than occasional watering and deadheading, they require little maintenance.

• Versatile uses – With a compact shape and continuous blooms, New Day Tiger Mix works beautifully in containers, hanging baskets, borders, and rock gardens.

How to Grow New Day Tiger Mix Gazania

Growing New Day Tiger Mix gazania is easy, especially if you give the plants what they need. Here are some tips:

• Sun and heat – Plant gazanias in a spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun. They revel in summer heat. Provide afternoon shade in very hot climates.

• Well-drained soil – Good drainage is essential. Amend heavy soils with compost or sand to improve drainage. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites.

• Moderate watering – Water thoroughly after planting, then allow the soil to partially dry between waterings. Established plants are quite drought tolerant.

• Fertilizer – Apply a balanced flower fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during spring and summer. Avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes foliage over flowers.

• Growing from seed – Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Grow seedlings at 70°F. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost.

• Buying plants – Look for stocky, green plants without flowers in cell packs or containers. Plant them at the same depth they were growing in their pot.

• Deadheading – Remove spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering. Clip back whole flower stalks to the base of the plant.

• Overwintering – New Day gazania is grown as an annual in all but the warmest climates. It is not winter hardy. Where winters are mild, it may self-seed and return as a perennial.

Where to Use in the Landscape

This dwarf gazania is ideal for:

• Containers – The compact, mounded form is perfect for mixed planting in pots and window boxes. Pairs nicely with trailing plants.

• Hanging baskets – Looks gorgeous cascading from a hanging basket. Plant with calibrachoa or petunias for waves of color.

• Borders and beds – Brighten sunny borders and garden beds. Looks especially nice along paths or walkways. Plant en masse for bold color impact.

• Rock gardens – Thrives in the well-drained soil and sunny exposure of rock gardens. Adds a pop of color among rocks and alpines.

Combining with Other Flowers

The vivid bicolor blooms of New Day Tiger Mix provide eye-catching contrast when combined with:

• Solid color flowers like marigolds, zinnias, petunias, or salvias
• Pastel flowers such as dusty millers, verbena, dianthus, or alyssum
• Dark foliaged plants like purple heart, coleus, or parsley
• Silver or gray foliage like dichondra, dusty miller, or artemisia
• Spiky flowers and foliage like yucca, grasses, or society garlic

Growing New Day Tiger Mix from Seed

Many gardeners prefer growing New Day Tiger Mix gazania from seed. Here are some tips for success:

• Start indoors – Begin seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Gazania needs a soil temperature of at least 70°F to germinate.

• Use warm soil – Warm the potting mix to 70-75°F before sowing. Bottom heat under seed trays is ideal. Maintain this soil temperature for best germination.

• Light cover – Barely cover tiny gazania seeds with soil or vermiculite. They need light to germinate.

• Humidity dome – Place seed trays in a humidity dome or under plastic to maintain even moisture.

• Grow on – Once seedlings emerge, remove the humidity dome. Grow on at 65-70°F days, 55-60°F nights.

• Transplanting – Harden off seedlings, then transplant into the garden after all danger of frost. Space plants 6-8 inches apart.

Common Pests and Diseases

New Day gazanias are not prone to many problems. Potential issues include:

• Aphids – Check for colonies of these sap-sucking insects on new growth. Knock them off with a strong spray of water or use insecticidal soap.

• Slugs and snails – These foliage feeders chew holes in leaves. Use baits or traps to control them. Avoid moist, shady sites that attract them.

• Powdery mildew – This fungal disease coats leaves in white powdery growth. Improve airflow and avoid overhead watering to reduce its occurrence.

• Root rot – Excess moisture can lead to fungal root rot. Ensure good drainage and avoid overwatering.

• Rust – Rust fungus causes small brown/orange pustules on leaves. Prevent by spacing plants well and thinning inner foliage to encourage airflow.

FAQs about New Day Tiger Mix Gazania

What are the best uses for New Day Tiger Mix gazania?

Its compact size makes this gazania perfect for containers, hanging baskets, garden beds, borders, and rock gardens. It brings continuous color through summer heat.

How big do New Day Tiger Mix gazania get?

These gazanias grow 8-10 inches tall with a spread of 6-8 inches. They have a neat, mounded habit.

Is New Day Tiger Mix gazania an annual or perennial?

It’s grown as an annual in most climates. In frost-free areas, it may self-seed and return as a short-lived perennial.

What color are the flowers of New Day Tiger Mix?

This mix includes New Day Red Stripe (red stripes on yellow) and New Day Rose Stripe (pink stripes on yellow).

How can I get New Day Tiger Mix gazania to bloom more?

Regular deadheading and proper care promotes the most blooms. Make sure plants get full sun, moderate water, and occasional fertilizer.

Is New Day Tiger Mix deer resistant?

Yes, gazanias are rarely bothered by deer thanks to their coarse foliage and pungent odor. Their drought tolerance also deters deer.

Can New Day Tiger Mix gazania grow in part shade?

Gazanias really need a full sun location to bloom their best. At least 6 hours of direct sun per day is ideal.

What should I plant with New Day Tiger Mix gazania?

Try combining with trailing plants, solid flowers, silver foliage, grasses, or spiky textures. Contrasting colors and textures look great.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to add vibrant color and visual interest to your garden, New Day Tiger Mix gazania is a stunning choice. This winning hybrid offers bold striped blooms, compact growth, and outstanding performance through summer’s heat and humidity. Plant some this spring and enjoy the vibrant flowers!