Common Name: weather prophet
Type: Annual
Family: Asteraceae
Native Range: South Africa, Namibia
Zone: 2 to 11
Height: 0.75 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 0.50 to 1.00 feet
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
Bloom Description: White rays with yellow-brown center disk
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Annual
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Drought
Culture
Grow in sandy, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates drought and hot summers, but dislikes the high humidity of the St. Louis area. Avoid overhead watering to help prevent onset of fungal leaf diseases. Seed may be sown directly in the garden after last frost date or started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date for earlier bloom. Also may be grown in pots/containers.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Dimorphotheca pluvialis, commonly called rain daisy or weather prophet, is one of several different tropical composites commonly called African daisy (see also Osteospermum and Arctotis). It is a tender annual that grows 8-12” (less frequently to 16”) tall, and features daisy-like flowers with white rays (tinged purple beneath) and yellowish-brown center disks. Flowers bloom freely from summer to fall in cool summer climates, but may slow down considerably in the hot and humid St. Louis area summers. Flowers close at night and on cloudy days or before rain (hence the common names). Narrow obovate to oblanceolate, dentate green leaves (to 3.5” long). Synonymous with D. annua and sometimes included in the genus Osteospermum.
Genus name comes from the Greek words dis meaning twice, morphe meaning a shape and theka meaning "fruit" in reference to the two kinds of achenes found in the flower head.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for leaf hoppers and powdery mildew.
Uses
Mass in beds, rock gardens or borders. Containers.