Gerbera Daisies

[txbeyer]

As if I don't have enough favorite plants, I saw some beautiful Gerbera daisy hybrids at Lowe's today and couldn't resist them - now adorning our back deck in a large decor pot. I always thought Gerbera Daisies were difficult to grow but maybe not. I understand that they can be perennials if greenhouse grown over winter. Has anyone else grown these as anything but an annual and what has been your experience with them?

[rcjcst]

I bought a white gerber daisy for my 5 yr old last year. My husband let her plant in our garden near thr front door(morning sun). We have always forgoten to take care of it. Well it's back this year. She is so excited. I did not know they would come back. Thicker and going to have more blooms from the look of it...

[txbeyer]

That is very encouraging! Thanks.

[janidob]

I bought three colors last year, orange, red and fuscia and just set them inside my backdoor when it was below 40 degrees outside. Two survived and the orange one now has 7 blooms on it. I am not sure which color the other one is but I can't wait to see. I have tons of seeds from all three colors. I love gerbers because the blooms last 2 weeks and the plant is constantly putting out new blooms.

I have added a couple more colors this year. Lowe's had too many to resist!!

[Gram18]

Bob I`m not so sure which ones they are. I have some of the daisies, but never bothered to label them. Mine come up every year also. Do you have a picture of yours?

[rose1020]

Hi
I have had them in the past and with little care they came back each year, bigger, stonger and more of them.
That was when I lived in Tyler, TX.
Now I live in Texarkana, TX which is on the TX, AR border. I had planted one last spring to see what it would do, well we had a cold winter, down in the 20's and high teens for several days. I had forgot to mulch it for extra protection, but it is putting out leaves from the roots now, so I guess they are hardy even to zone 7.
But on a different note, the house we bought and I am redoing the flower beds, and took the ones that was here and redone them took everything out, tilled, etc. and after I planted the one flower bed I got too (had two broken ankles last spring), to my surprise I had petunias come up from seed that had lay dorment for years. Now we all know they are annuals and tender plants. I pulled up a lot that were still blooming after frost in Nov last fall, but I had about 5 that I let stay just to see what would happen. Well they are now about a foot high and blooming there heads off. I have never seen anything like it. I lost flowers that should have made it through the winter, and here are these plants going strong. I am going to save seed this year from these plants and will share with others.
Do not know how many seed I will get but if you want any please let me know and I will send on first come request.
Thanks
Rose