From Tiny Seeds to Sun-Loving Summer Colour

A friendly guide to sowing, growing and enjoying Treasure Flower 'Sunshine' in Hungary.

Come Into the Garden With Me…

Today, we're growing Treasure Flower - one of those plants that seems to understand exactly what a hot Hungarian summer is asking for.

Treasure Flower is Gazania, a South African sun-lover with daisy-like blooms in glowing shades of yellow, orange, bronze, cream and red. Our 'Sunshine' mixture gives us a cheerful mix rather than one fixed colour, so every seedling can bring a slightly different surprise.

The most charming thing about Gazania is not only the colour. On bright sunny days the flowers open wide. When the sky becomes dull or evening arrives, the petals often fold inward again. Nothing is wrong; the plant is simply following the light.

For Hungary, that makes Gazania wonderfully useful. It enjoys heat, bright terraces and dry summer borders, provided the roots are well drained. It is exactly the sort of plant that can keep looking cheerful while thirstier bedding plants begin to struggle.

We'll begin with seed, learn when to sow, how to raise sturdy seedlings, when to plant outside, how little feeding is actually needed, and why drainage matters just as much as sunshine.

And we'll look at the Buzzy 'Sunshine' mixture in the Holland Kertészet range, so you can use its jewel-like colours in pots, gravel gardens and sunny borders.

Ready? Let's grow something that opens with the sun.

1. Meet Treasure Flower

Treasure Flower is the common name used for Gazania, most often Gazania rigens in modern gardening references. It belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae, and garden forms are grown for their bright, low-growing summer flowers.

What does it look like?

The plant makes a compact mound of narrow leaves with daisy-like flowers held just above the foliage. The petals can be yellow, orange, bronze, cream or red, often with dark rings or contrasting marks near the centre.

Those markings can look almost jewel-like when the flower is fully open, which explains the old common name 'Treasure Flower' rather well.

Annual or perennial?

In warm frost-free climates Gazania can behave as a short-lived perennial. In Hungary, the simplest and most reliable approach is to grow it as a frost-tender annual and enjoy one excellent sunny season.

2. Give It Sun, Warmth and Drainage

If Gazania could choose its own address, it would ask for the hottest, brightest corner of the garden and soil that never stays soggy.

Full sun is essential

Aim for at least six hours of direct sun, and preferably more. In shade the plant may survive, but flowering becomes weaker and the blooms may not open as reliably.

A south-facing terrace, gravelly border, raised bed or bright balcony can suit it beautifully. This is not a plant that needs protection from Hungarian summer sunshine once established.

Drainage matters

Treasure Flower dislikes roots sitting in wet soil. Sandy or gravelly ground is excellent, and ordinary garden soil works well if excess water drains away freely.

If you garden on heavy Hungarian clay, improve the structure or use a raised bed or container. Warm sunshine above and air around the roots below is the combination Gazania likes best.

Pots are a natural fit

Wide pots, troughs and balcony boxes suit the low spreading habit very well. Always use drainage holes and avoid leaving containers permanently standing in water.

3. The Treasure Flower We Grow With You

The Holland Kertészet packet in this book is Buzzy Treasure Flower 'Sunshine'.

It is a mixed Gazania selection with compact growth around 25-30 cm. The packet recommends a warm protected sowing in late winter or early spring, followed by planting outside once frost risk has passed.

What Sunshine means

This is a mixture, so do not expect every plant to match. One may be golden yellow, another orange with a dark eye, another cream with bronze markings. Several plants together make the mixture itself part of the design.

In borders

Use groups of three, five or seven rather than scattering single plants randomly. Repetition gives the low flowers much more visual impact.

In pots and balcony boxes

Place Gazania where you actually see it during the day. The flowers respond to light, so a sunny terrace table, path edge or balcony door is more rewarding than a distant evening corner.

With other plants

Good companions include compact marigolds, dwarf zinnias, blue salvia, verbena, alyssum and silver-leaved plants that also appreciate sun and drainage.

One packet, many colours

The fun of 'Sunshine' is discovering which shades appear. A small group becomes a ready-made warm summer palette.

4. Let's Sow the Seeds

Gazania seed is manageable, but the seedlings appreciate warmth at the beginning and plenty of light as soon as they emerge.

When to sow in Hungary

For an early start, sow in late winter to early spring at around 20°C. You can also sow under frames in spring. The aim is to have sturdy young plants ready for warm weather rather than oversized seedlings waiting indoors.

How to sow

Fill a tray or small pots with fine seed compost, water first, sow thinly and cover lightly with fine compost or vermiculite. Keep the compost evenly moist but never saturated.

Once seedlings appear, move them into bright light. Warmth without light makes soft, stretched growth; bright conditions help build compact plants.

Potting on

When seedlings have true leaves and are easy to handle, move them into individual pots or wider-spaced modules. Give the roots room but avoid overpotting into large, wet containers.

Small seedlings can appear to pause for a while. Once the roots strengthen and light levels rise, growth becomes much quicker.

5. Planting Out in Hungary

By late spring the seedlings should be sturdy, but Gazania is still frost tender. Patience now produces stronger plants later.

Wait for settled warmth

Do not rush Gazania outside during one warm April week. In much of Hungary, planting permanently outside becomes safer in May once damaging frost is no longer expected and the soil is warming properly.

Harden them off

Introduce plants gradually to outdoor sun, wind and cooler nights over about a week. Even a sun-loving plant can scorch if it moves straight from protected conditions into fierce midday light.

Planting

Space plants roughly 20-25 cm apart for a joined-up carpet of colour. Water thoroughly after planting and keep an eye on moisture while the small root systems establish.

After a few weeks, reduce watering frequency and let the soil surface begin drying between thorough drinks. Drought tolerance belongs to an established plant, not a newly transplanted seedling.

6. Summer Care: Less Fuss, More Sun

Once summer settles in, Treasure Flower becomes one of the easier annuals in the garden - provided you gave it the right place at the beginning.

Water deeply, not constantly

Established plants in the ground tolerate short dry spells well. During prolonged Hungarian heat, water thoroughly and then allow the soil to begin drying again rather than splashing the surface every evening.

Containers still need checking more often. Even a drought-tolerant plant can become thirsty when all its roots are trapped in a hot pot.

Feeding

Gazania does not need rich feeding. Too much nitrogen can produce lots of leaves and fewer flowers. In ordinary garden soil, a modest feed is enough; container plants can receive diluted flowering-plant fertiliser occasionally.

Deadheading

Remove faded flower heads if you want the longest display. If you want to save seed, leave a few good flowers to mature later in the season.

Watch the light, not only the water

If flowers close on a dull afternoon, do not automatically water. Gazania responds strongly to light level, and closed blooms can be completely normal on cloudy days.

7. When Something Goes Wrong

Treasure Flower is generally tough, but most problems come from the wrong light, too much water or too much feeding.

The flowers are not opening

Look at the sky first. Gazania flowers naturally close in dull conditions and toward evening. If the plant is healthy, wait for sunshine before assuming there is a problem.

Lots of leaves, few flowers

Too little sun or too much nitrogen are the usual causes. Move pots into brighter light and reduce rich feeding.

Leaves are yellowing

Check drainage. Constantly wet roots can cause yellowing and weak growth. Let excess water escape freely and avoid keeping saucers permanently full.

The plant wilts in heat

Check the soil before watering. If the root ball is dry, water deeply. If it is already wet, adding more water will not solve the problem.

Pests

Aphids may gather on soft new growth and spider mites can appear in very hot, dry, sheltered conditions. Regular inspection and good airflow help keep small problems manageable.

8. Flowers for Pots, Borders and Gravel Gardens

This is where Treasure Flower earns its place: it turns intense sunshine into colour and keeps low summer plantings looking lively.

In a pot

Use a broad container with excellent drainage and place a group of 'Sunshine' plants near the edge. One upright companion in the centre can add height without shading them.

Along a path or raised bed

Repeat small groups rather than using isolated plants. The low mounds create a colourful rhythm without blocking the view of taller plants behind them.

On a hot Hungarian terrace, Gazania is particularly useful because the same bright conditions that exhaust some bedding plants encourage its flowers to open.

Use contrast

Warm Gazania colours look especially good beside blue salvia, purple verbena, white alyssum or silvery foliage. The contrast makes the jewel-like markings near the flower centres stand out even more.

9. Seed Saving, Autumn and Next Year

Treasure Flower can be saved from seed, although a mixed packet such as 'Sunshine' may produce variation in the next generation.

Saving seed

Allow a few of your healthiest late flowers to mature instead of deadheading them. Collect dry seed on a rain-free day and store it somewhere cool, dark and dry.

Because 'Sunshine' is a mixture, saved plants may not reproduce the same balance of colours. If exact consistency matters, fresh commercial seed is the safer choice.

Can you overwinter it?

Favourite plants can sometimes be kept bright and frost-free indoors, but beginners do not need to make this part of the plan. Treating Gazania as an annual keeps the method simple and reliable.

Then frost arrives

Outdoor Gazanias usually finish when serious autumn cold arrives. Remove healthy finished plants, clean reusable pots and remember which sunny position gave the best display.

By then, you will also know which colours from the 'Sunshine' mix you most want to see again next year.

Remove healthy old plants to the compost, dispose of diseased material appropriately, and keep your saved seed somewhere dry until spring.

10. Your Treasure Flower Cheat Sheet

We've gone from seed to a sun-opening carpet of colour. Here's the whole journey in one place.

1. Treasure Flower is Gazania rigens.

2. 'Sunshine' is a mixed-colour selection.

3. Grow it as a frost-tender annual in Hungary.

4. Expect compact growth around 25-30 cm.

5. Sow warm in late winter or early spring.

6. Cover seed lightly and keep compost gently moist.

7. Give seedlings bright light after germination.

8. Pot on when seedlings are easy to handle.

9. Harden plants off before permanent outdoor planting.

10. Wait until damaging frost risk has passed.

11. Choose full sun - more is better.

12. Use free-draining soil or compost.

13. Space plants about 20-25 cm apart.

14. Water young plants while they establish.

15. Water established plants deeply but not constantly.

16. Feed lightly and avoid excess nitrogen.

17. Deadhead for a longer display.

18. Expect flowers to close in dull weather or evening.

19. Pots, gravel gardens and hot borders suit Gazania well.

20. Save seed if you enjoy variation, or use fresh seed for the most consistent mix.

If You Remember Only Five Things…

1. Give it sunshine

Gazania needs strong light for the best flower display and for those flowers to open fully.

2. Keep the roots well drained

Warm soil is welcome; permanently wet roots are not.

3. Wait for warmth

A strong plant set out after frost often overtakes a chilled plant put outside too early.

4. Do not overfeed

Too much nitrogen gives you leaves when what you really want is flowers.

5. Do not panic when flowers close

Cloudy weather and evening naturally make Gazania fold its petals inward.

One Last Walk Around the Garden

Do you remember where we started?

With a packet of seeds and a plant made for summer sunshine.

We sowed it warm, gave the seedlings bright light, waited for frost to pass, and chose the sunniest part of the garden.

Treasure Flower taught us that light, warmth and free-draining roots matter far more than rich soil or constant watering.

Then the Hungarian summer arrived - hot terrace, dry border, fierce afternoons - and our Gazanias opened wider.

By autumn, you know your sunniest corner, your watering rhythm, and why Gazania folds its petals when the light disappears.

Enjoy the last flowers, save a little seed if you like, and remember your sunniest spot for next year.

And when you're ready for the next plant…

Come into the garden with me.