treasureflower
Gazania linearis (Thunb.) Druce
Treasureflower raises a large daisy-like head above a low rosette of leaves. The apparent bloom is a gathering of many flowers: spreading ray florets frame a centre packed with smaller disc florets. In Gazania linearis, the rays are usually golden yellow and often dark at their bases, while the centre ranges from yellow to reddish-orange. Kew Species Profile: Gazania linearis
Botanical name
Kew accepts Gazania linearis, with Gorteria linearis as its basionym. Two recognized varieties contribute to the variation described here. Plants of the World Online: Gazania linearis
Recognizing the plant
A stout woody crown supports the foliage, and older plants develop several rosettes. The leaves are usually narrow, sometimes divided into featherlike lobes. Their upper surfaces are hairless, contrasting with the dense soft white hairs beneath. The variety ovalis has broader, lance-shaped to elliptic blades, so narrow foliage is not universal across the species. Each flower head stands alone on a stalk that rises above the leaves, and can reach about seven centimetres across. Kew Species Profile: Gazania linearis
Native range
The native range lies in South Africa, from the Cape provinces into KwaZulu-Natal. Kew’s species account places it on grassy slopes and rocky cliffs in the summer-rainfall region, reaching elevations of about 3,050 metres. Plants of the World Online: Gazania linearisKew Species Profile: Gazania linearis
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.