IN theory, they need protection to get through the winter, but I find if they're planted in a southfacing, sheltered spot, they come through - I have a patch in such a situation which made it through last winter... I guess if you want to be sure of saving them, somewhere frost free would be good.

I find the bog-standard, no-specific-variety ones are hardy enough to come through out in the garden, but I've lost all of the other ones - the fancier colours, decorative petals etc whenever I've left them out. I would advise taking cuttings (but it may be too late for that) and pot up the plant and keep frost-free if you don't want to risk it.

I agree. The only reliably hardy one is Osteospermum jucundum. I've tried named ones that 'say' they're hardy, but they are simpy NOT.

We've talked about this before. I heard a tip that I'm trying this year. I've potted mine up, cut it back to 4" and put it in a cold greenhouse. I did this two weeks ago and it already has new shoots. If we get very bad frosts I shall bubblewrap the pot. I'm very hopeful and I'll let you know in spring how it got on.

Yes, O. jucundum is the single hardy species. It does have a few named forms that range from palest pinky-white, mid-pink to a deeper purple-pink form. Its habit is low and spreading with flowers held erect on very long stalks, well above the foliage. This one (and its forms) is pretty hardy and I know one in an exposed garden near me be completely unharmed last winter!

The other types of Osteospermum have a different growth habit being more upright and branching. They come in a much wider range of flower colour (including yellow) with relatively short flower stalks. Generally, they don't come through our winters unless you live on the sea front or in very mild areas.

Yes Osteospermum Jucundrum is the only hardy variety in the UK

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31559373@N00/160221777/

I've been busy propagating my O. jucundum this summer - I pulled out some pieces from the edge of the bed, potted them up either in trays or pots, and now I have about a dozen healthy new plants to go out. I have a whole large bed of them, inherited, and the central ones have gone a but 'woody', so I was beginning to get gaps in the central section, hence the Osteo. Nursery I now have! They'll stay in the cold frame until the spring, I think, as such cold weather is predicted.

When Osteospernum Jucundrum gets woody chop them back really hard in early to mid September and they will produce new leaves within 3 weeks. I use a spade and make vertical cuts to chop off all the side stems and then finish the top off with secateurs.

You can be really savage with this pruning, making the plant as small as you like... and I've never had a loss with this method yet.

The pieces taken off can be potted up or planted directly in the ground if desired and will produce new plants for next year.

Unfotunately, Anchorman, good though your advice is, the 'woody' parts are dead - they're brown and brittle. I can pull out handfuls! I'm going to fill the gaps with my new plants and encourage them to spread.

I believe that this bed of Osteos (inherited) may have been planted at least 20 years ago. It's about 30' long by 8' deep...a lovely sight in summer. :-))

20 years is a long time for a perennial.

I love these large beds of Osteo. There's a small roundabout at the entrance to my village and I keep it looking nice. It's mainly grass with a twenty foot diameter bed in the centre. I planted 4 Osteos in the centre about 4 years ago and they now fill the centre to a diameter of 6 feet and flower for months.

I surround this with geraniums in summer and pansies in winter

Oooh! A guerilla gardener! ;-)

Yes a few of others in the village decided to adopt the very run down and tatty roundabout.

Typically though, the others all lost interest so muggins here now does it all which after doing 35 customers gardens a week can be the last thing I need!

I do get alot of complements but no offers of help!

It was all grass and cut only twice a year. There is now a 20 foot diameter circular plant bed in the centre and I cut the grass and hoe the bed every week or two.

I have had trouble with thieves . I planted some gorgeous winter flowering heathers and after 3 years they were each 18 inches across. Last winter all 20 were dug up and pinched by some thieving low lifes!

I've also had bedding plants nicked.

I live in a tiny cul de sac village in a very rural area and it staggers me that in this sort of area thieving goes on. It is to be expected in run down inner city areas but it really suirprised me and other villagers that it happens here

Here's a photo as it was about 3 years ago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31559373@N00/768850188/

That looks great - I'd like to see a blog on it, please!

What a shame that people think they can help themselves and spoil things for others, though. :-((

Unfortunately I don't have any before and after photos so the blog might be a bit dull.

Can't you take some now?

I can't take before photos Spritz because it's already after!

:)

It would be nice to see how it's come on, three years later. We'll have to imagine the original plain grass roundabout that was mown twice a year.

Just left you a comment :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31559373@N00/768850188/

:)

I must label my pictures Lol.