Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Mountain African Daisy bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Mountain African Daisy, Delightful African Daisy, Bergbietou (Osteospermum jucundum).
More about mountain african daisy
About Mountain African Daisy
Osteospermum jucundum · also called Mountain African Daisy, Delightful African Daisy · flowering
Osteospermum jucundum is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial native to the mountains of South Africa and Lesotho, producing solitary, light pinkish-purple daisy-like flowers 5–6 cm across with a contrasting dark eye from spring through autumn. It thrives in full sun with light, well-drained, moderately fertile soil and a warm, south-facing position. The key care point is to overwinter cuttings under glass in frost-prone regions, as the plant is only borderline hardy outside mild, coastal climates. Not confirmed toxic by ASPCA; exercise caution with pets.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Aphid infestations on new growth: Aphid colonies gather on young shoot tips and buds, causing distorted growth and sticky honeydew residue. Blast off with water or apply insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators such as ladybirds.
The reasons mountain african daisy isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming mountain african daisy traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding mountain african daisy a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get mountain african daisy to flower
- Maximise sun. Give mountain african daisy the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for mountain african daisy and get the feeding right with the mountain african daisy fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Mountain African Daisy flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full mountain african daisy care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Mountain African Daisy blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my mountain african daisy flower?
Mountain African Daisy blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make mountain african daisy bloom?
Give mountain african daisy the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does mountain african daisy normally bloom?
Mountain African Daisy flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with mountain african daisy after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping mountain african daisy flowering?
Feeding mountain african daisy a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Mountain African Daisy care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Mountain African Daisy light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Mountain African Daisy fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library