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More Information About Othonna
Othonna is an interesting genus of over 100 species most of which are native to South Africa. Othonna species vary widely in shape and form. The genus includes species that are succulents, some that are woody plants with squat (caudiciform) trunks, and some species that are herbaceous tuber-forming perennials. What ties all othonna species together is the bright yellow (or in a few species, purple) dandelion-like flower that appears in spring. Many othonna species also have wide, flat leaves that are thick and have a covering of hairs or wax to make them tolerant of dry conditions.
Only a few othonna are hardy enough to survive in temperate gardens. Othonna cheirifolia and Othonna capensis are the two most commonly grown cold hardy species. The famous British garden designer and artist of the early 20th centrury, Gertrude Jekyll, especially liked the north African species, Othonna cheirifolia, and she heavily promoted its use as a perennial wildflower. She liked to let it hang over rock walls, letting its heavy branches form hanging sheets of gray foliage.
As you might imagine, the cold-hardy othonna species require light, well-drained soil and are quite drought tolerant. They do not like cold, heavy, or overly wet soil and they do well in containers. When you are ready to buy othonna for your perennial garden, we hope you'll check out our online offering of othonna for sale.