Osteospermum fruticosum (L.) Norl.
Dimorphotheca (Dimorphotheca fruticosa) is a long-lived, evergreen perennial herb that is native to South Africa. It was introduced to New Zealand as a garden ornamental and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1977. The plant forms a spreading mat with trailing stems that root where they contact the ground. It has fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves and flowers from spring to autumn, producing white daisy-like flower heads with a purple underside, which develop into seeds. It tolerates drought, wind, salt spray and poor soils. It reproduces by seed and vegetatively from creeping stems. Seeds are dispersed by wind, water and human activities. Creeping stems are spread by soil movement, dumped garden waste and other human activities and readily produce new plants.
This description has been automatically generated using information from trusted sources. If you notice any errors or omissions, please let us know.