Taking A Gander at Gerbera Daisies
Gerbera Daisies are bright, colorful flowers that bloom in the spring and last all summer long. A round, sunny face encircled with a crown of long petals found in a variety of vibrant colors, the Gerbera Daisy is a popular addition to any flower bed, bouquet, or centerpiece. It ranks as the fifth most used cut flower in the world; however, these brilliant blooms are anything but ordinary. Stick around and learn a few more facts about these fabulous flowers.
A Brief History of Gerbera Daisies
The Gerbera Daisy is a non-fragrant flower native to tropical regions of South America, Africa, and Asia. Abraham Gronovius (a botanist from Leiden) discovered this daisy in Africa in 1727. Though it is named the Gerbera flower after his colleague, a German botanist and medical doctor, Traugott Gerber. It is also commonly known as the African daisy.
In 1827 the Gerbra Daisy made it to the United Kingdom. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the Netherlands became the largest country in the field of development for the Gerbera Daisies. By 1975, the Gerbera daisy became one of the most popular cut flowers, extensively exported due to high demand.
What Do Gerberas Symbolize?
The gerbera daisy is a popular choice for a cut bouquet, but did you know that different gerbera flower colors hold different meanings and symbolism?
Light pink gerberas represent respect, admiration, and compassion, while darker hues of pink are often a symbol of gratitude. They are the perfect choice if you need to pass along sympathy for a sick loved one, or express flirty admiration to someone you care about.
Like most red flowers, red gerbera daisies are a symbol of romantic love and passion. With their vivid hue, they are an ideal choice for birthdays, anniversaries, or any time you want to turn up the romance.
White gerbera daisies signify purity and innocence. They are the classic choice for weddings, baptisms, or a meaningful gift from parent to child. They are also the official 5th Wedding Anniversary Flowers.
Purple gerbera flowers symbolize pride, grace, fascination, and charm. An ideal gift for any occasion or send an arrangement just because!
Orange or yellow gerberas represent happiness, joy, friendship, and warmth, making these fun flowers the perfect choice for your friends and colleagues. A bouquet of these cheerful blooms is sure to make anyone’s day brighter.
What is the Cultural Significance of Gerbera Daisies?
In order flowers in egypt, gerberas are a devotion to the sun. The Celts believed that the gerbera daisies help reduce stress and sorrows.
The Gerbera jamesonii is the national flower of Eritrea, a country in East Africa.
Gerbera is the official April birth month flower.
Daisies are also one of the most popular floral symbols in modern tattoo designs representing a range of symbolism associated with the chosen color, design, and placement on the body.
How do I Care for Gerbera Daisies?
Due to their long vase life, gerbera daisies are an excellent choice for cut flowers. When properly cared for, these blooms can add color and vibrance to your home for up to 14 days! But in order to get your flowers off on the right foot, here are a few tips to get you started:
– Gerbera daisies love the sun. They’ll reach toward it whenever they can so set your bouquet in bright, indirect sunlight for best results.
– As mentioned above, gerbera daisies love the sun but hate the heat, so be sure to put them in a place that isn’t near a furnace or heat source.
– Too much water can rot the stems. So set your freshly cut flowers in a clean vase with just about an inch of water.
– Speaking of stems, before submerging, re-cut the stems at a 45-degree angle with a clean knife under warm water to promote water uptake.
– Change the water every two to three days to avoid bacteria build-up and premature wilting.
– While fluoride is great for your teeth, it isn’t a good choice for your gerberas. It’s best to use filtered water to avoid exposure to fluoridated water.
– Place the gerbera flower away from ripening fruits and vegetables to avoid exposure to ethylene.
As you can see, with their large flowering heads, and vivid colors, gerbera daisies are a long-lasting and beautiful addition to any home, office, or the ideal gift for any occasion. Sending gerbera daisies is the perfect way to brighten someone’s day and is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.