'Whirligig' … cousin of freeway daisy

Sunset, June, 1989

A cousin of the freeway daisy, Osteospermum fruticosum has made a splash in garden centers all over California. It's an osteospermum hybrid known simply as 'Whirligig'-and it takes its name from the unusual pinched petals you see in the photograph above.

Use it as a container accent plant, low border, or mass planting. In hottest inland climates, consider it a much tougher version of marguerite. A plant in a 2-gallon container costs about $10.

Unlike the freeway daisy, it doesn't spread and sprawl. Instead, it becomes an upright, 3-foot-high shrubby plant. White, 2 1/2-inch flowers come in huge numbers in spring, and only start to slow down in July. Petals are completely pinched at first, then gradually open.

Summer heat and drought are no problem; bright yellow-green leaves stay clean and fresh all year. Lightly shear plants once after flowering, then again in December or January if necessary.