As the symbol of fidelity and forever love, Daisies are commonly gifted to celebrate the 5th wedding anniversary. It’s simple, sweet, and effective. However, if you’re yearning to impress with some pizzazz, the Gerbera, also a type of Daisy and arguably the most popular, is a great alternative!
Aside from the classic Daisy white, the Gerbera comes in a variety of vibrant hues, all of which have very positive connotations. Truly, the incarnation of all things happy, good and nice! Plus, they’re really easy on the wallet too, so you can brighten up days without breaking the bank. More about the colours and meanings below:
GERBERA FLOWER COLOURS AND SYMBOLISM
White Gerbera Meaning
- Purity
- Innocence
When To Gift White Gerbera
- Weddings
- Baptismal occasions
Yellow Gerbera Meaning
- Friendship
- Happiness
When To Gift Yellow Gerbera
- Friendship Day
- As a get well soon
Pink Gerbera Meaning
- Respect and admiration
- Gratitude
When To Gift Pink Gerbera
Red Gerbera Meaning
- Romantic love
- Passion
When To Gift Red Gerbera
- Valentine’s Day
- Birthdays, especially for married couples
ADDITIONAL GIFTING NOTES
- Perfectly safe and non-toxic for pets, great for cat and dog owners.
- In need of a pick-me-up? The Gerbera Daisy has a long vase life (more care advice below!) so you can definitely count of these cheery blooms.
GERBERA FLOWER CARE 101
Nothing’s sadder than a droopy, wilting Gerb’, especially if they’re the star flower in your bunch or vase. If looked after well, these blooms will be kept in their cheerful state for at least 7 to 10 days.
Basic Care Steps For Cut Gerberas
- After unwrapping, hold the cut end of the stem under water, and cut off the bottom ½ inch at a 45-degree angle with a sharp pair of clippers.
- Gerberas are thirsty flowers. It’s important to check in with them, and to replace the water in the vase every two days, making sure that the stem remains submerged.
- Need more advice? Read our Flower Care Guide for more tips!
Additional Pro-Tips For Gerbera Care
- Gerberas are particularly susceptible to bacteria. Once the stems are blocked, they’ll droop. That’s why, it’s all the more important to clean your vase thoroughly, and you can do that by using a bit of bleach and hot water!
- Browning petals? Fret not, you can pluck them out without affecting the rest of the bloom.
- If the bottom of the stems look spongy or the flowers start wilting, recut the stems to improve the water intake.
GERBERA: A HISTORY
If you’ve always thought that the Gerbera looked strikingly similar to the Sunflower, and Aster, you’re right! These plants are all classified under the Asteraceae or Compositae family, and therefore look alike.
The Gerbera, or Gerbera Daisy, was first discovered in South Africa by renowned botanist Traugott Gerber back in 1737. Despite its origins, it can now be found across the globe, with the Netherlands producing at least 900 million of the flowers in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes each year alone— not bad for a country renowned for Tulips!
DID YOU KNOW?
Blue Gerberas don’t exist, so if you do see one, just know that it’s (likely to be) artificial.
GERBERA VARIETIES
There are over 30 species of Gerbera flowers in South America, Africa, and Asia, but fret not, they can be classified by forms. Altogether there are four distinct types:
Single Gerbera
- The most common type of Gerbera
- Features disk-shaped flowers
- Long, thin petals
Double Gerbera
- Rounder and fuller than your Single Gerb’
- Has more than one row of petals
Crested Double Gerbera
- Features a double row of overlapping petals
- Additional inner rows
- Might be two-toned
Full Crested Double Gerbera
- Unbelievably fluffy!
- Has two rows of outer and inner petals
- Definitely the statement maker of the bunch
THAT'S ALL FROM THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK!
In short, Gerberas are just about the friendliest flowers all around. Not only do they make great casual and anniversary gifts, but are suitable for pet owners and even people with allergies. We’ll definitely be seeing more of this modern-day classic. Best of all, it sure brightens up a Happy Bunch of flowers!
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