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Gerbera jamesonii Lollipop Series
Gerbera jamesonii Lollipop Series
COMMON NAMES
Lollipop Gerber Daisy, Lollipop Transvaal Daisy, Lollipop Barberton Daisy
Gerbera (GER-ber-ah) - named for Traugott Gerber, a German naturalist
jamesonii (jay-mess-OWN-ee-eye) named for Robert Jameson, 19th century botanist who discovered the plant
Lollipop Series – varieties include Mango, Strawberry, Watermelon, Pineapple, Coconut
GROUP 
Dicot
FAMILY
Asteraceae
ORIGIN
Species - Transvaal, South Africa
DESCRIPTION
Lollipop Gerber Daisy is an herbaceous perennial that averages 12 inches in height with a comparable spread. It has an upright, somewhat dense, clumping habit of growth. It has a moderate growth rate.
Leaves are evergreen, basal rosette in arrangement, pubescent, often lobed, simple, 8 to 10 inches long, and medium green in color.
The daisy-like flowers average about 4 to 6 inches across and are borne on long hairless stems 12 to 18 inches long. They have an extra set of petals on the interior of the flower that are a darker hue than the outer petals. It blooms from summer to fall in most areas and year round in warmer zones with peaks in spring and fall.
HARDINESS
It is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11, generally down to about 30 degrees F. Freezes will usually kill to the ground with reports of surviving into mid 20's and still resprouting in the spring.
LIGHT
Best growth and flowering is in full sun; it tolerates light shade.
SALT
Slight to Moderate Salt Spray Tolerance – it will tolerate some spray, but it is best to have more protection such as a fence or building as an additional barrier behind the first row of plantings or the first dunes.
SOIL
It will grow on a wide variety of well-drained soils, in the preferred pH range of 5.5 to 7.0. It may exhibit some nutrient deficiencies on 
alkaline soil.
WATERING
It has moderate drought tolerance once established, but it will look better with irrigation in dry spells. Overwatering can cause rot problems.
PROPAGATION
Division of clumps; seed, but doesn’t come true to variety
PRUNING
Remove spent flowers to encourage more flowering
FERTILIZING
It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a slow-release balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work. A formula with micronutrients added may be needed if soil pH isn’t within range.
PESTS
Chilli Thrips - University of Florida
Leaffooted Bug - University of Florida
American Serpentine Leafminer - University of Florida
Light Brown Apple Moth - University of Florida
Sweetpotato Whitefly B Biotype of Silverleaf 
Whitefly - University of Florida
Broad Mite - University of Florida
Cyclamen Mite - University of Florida
Western Flower Thrips - Washington State University
DISEASES
Powdery Mildew - University of California
Fusarium Wilt - University of California
Downy Mildew - Purdue University
Botrytis Blight or Gray Mold - Missouri Botanical Gardens
Southern Blight - Alabama Cooperative Extension
Black Root Rot - Cornell University
DEER
Resistant
There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.
OTHER
USES
Mass planting, containers, perennial garden, mixed plantings, edging
A search of Texas A&M University, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Wisconsin, Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals - Merck Vet Manual, Purdue University - Guide to Toxic Plants in Forages, Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States - Alabama Cooperative Extension, Florida Poison Control, and The Cat Fanciers Association did not show this plant on any of their lists.
California Poison Control lists Gerbera jamesonii as non-toxic.
ASPCA lists Gerbera jamesonii as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.