Cineraria is a group of small flowering plants and is a member of the sunflower flowering plant family. These plants are known for their colorful flowers that cover the entire plant and create a beautiful look. These plants are native to South and North Africa. Most species of these plants are herbaceous, and some grow like small shrubs or trees of small size. Due to their beautiful flowers, they are now grown worldwide as ornamental plants for indoor and outdoor decorations.
The Cineraria plants have daisy-like flowers of multiple colors (the color of the flower depends on the species). They are a member of the Asteraceae family of plants, which means they have a close relation to the sunflower plants, daisy plants, and strawflower plants. They have a weak and short stem that cannot carry their weight in an upward direction. That is why it can only grow up to 5 feet tall but can spread up to 10+ feet if provided proper space to grow. Below is a complete detailed guide on how to grow and care for the Cineraria Plants.
OVERVIEW
| Common Name | Cineraria plant |
| Scientific Name | Pericallis cruenta, Senecio cruentus |
| Genus, Family | Cineraria, Asteraceae |
| Size, Type | 5 feet tall and up to 10 feet wide, herbaceous, subshrub. |
| Color of stem, leaves, and flowers | Green-colored stem leaves are also green. Flowers can be of multiple colors depending upon the species that you are growing. Most of them have blue, yellow, and white shades. |
| Flowering Season | Early spring season, flowering can last up to two months. |
| Perennial/Annual. | Perennial evergreen plant. |
| Hardiness | USDA Hardiness Zone 9 to 11 |
| Temperature range | It can survive cold temperatures, but it thrives if temperatures are warm. |
| Sunlight | Full sunlight exposure for a few hours every day. |
| Growth Rate | Moderately fast-growing plant. |
Varieties
The Cineraria Plant group has more than 35 species and cultivars. Some species are natural, while some were created through the cross between different Cineraria Plants to get favorable colors and other properties. Some of these varieties are named after their parent plants while some are named after the botanists who worked on the creation of these varieties. Most of their properties are similar to the other members of this group, but in terms of flower color, every variant has its color of flowers and that is what makes each of these variants unique. Their growth and care guidelines are also similar. Below is a list of these species.
- Cineraria abyssinica Sch.Bip.
- Cineraria albicans N.E.Br.
- Cineraria alchemilloides DC.
- Cineraria anampoza (Baker) Baker
- Cineraria angulosa Lam.
- Cineraria aspera Thunb.
- Cineraria atriplicifolia DC.
- Cineraria austrotransvaalensis Cron
- Cineraria canescens J.C. Wendl. ex Link
- Cineraria cyanomontana Cron
- Cineraria decipiens Harv.
- Cineraria deltoidea Sond.
- Cineraria dryogeton Cron
- Cineraria erodioides DC.
- Cineraria erosa (Thunb.) Harv.
- Cineraria geifolia (L.) L.
- Cineraria geraniifolia DC.
- Cineraria glandulosa Cron
- Cineraria grandibracteata Hilliard
- Cineraria huilensis Cron
- Cineraria laevis A. Spreng.
- Cineraria lobata L’Hér.
- Cineraria longipes S. Moore
- Cineraria lyratiformis Cron
- Cineraria lyrata DC.
- Cineraria magnicephala Cron
- Cineraria mazoensis S. Moore
- Cineraria mollis E. Mey. ex DC.
- Cineraria ngwenyensis Cron
- Cineraria parvifolia Burtt Davy
- Cineraria pinnata O. Hoffm. ex Schinz
- Cineraria platycarpa DC.
- Cineraria pulchra Cron
- Cineraria saxifraga DC.
- Cineraria vagans Hilliard
- Cineraria vallis-pacis Dinter ex Merxm.
Lineage
The Cineraria is the name of the genus to whom all these plant species, cultivars, and varieties belong, and that is why all these plants are called Cineraria plants. This plant group belongs to the Senecioneae tribe of flowering plants that is a subgroup of the Asteraceae family. This Asteraceae family belongs to the Asterales order of the Angiosperms. This is the lineage of these plant species. The subspecies or varieties are a subject of research and were created using the cross between the species of the Cineraria group. That is why their lineage is also similar to the other members of this group.
Apperance
This is a group of plants that can grow up to five feet tall, and up to 10 feet wide. Their stems are weak and cannot support their upwards growth, that is why these stems divide and form multiple overlapping branches that create a shrub-like appearance. But not all the species and varieties reach this much height or width, some species are much smaller and only grow a few feet tall and wide. They have dark green leaves and green stems. Their branches are also green. As they are a flowering plant group, they grow flowers of beautiful colors. The most unique aspect of their flowers is that they look the same as the daisy flowers. They spread quickly in the area they are planted and form a cluster of plants that looks like a very thick shrub.
Flowering
The Cineraria plants produce flowers during the spring season. In cold areas, flowering starts during the mid-spring, but in warm areas, flowering starts earlier. Some species start producing flowers as early as the end of February. Every flower has a daisy-like appearance, multiple petals, and a circular center. To which all the petals of the flowers are attached. Their flowers have multiple colors, including blue and purple, red and white. Every species has its unique flower color. Every flower has three colors, blue, purple, or red on the outer side of the petal, while white at the beginning of the petal meanwhile they have a dark brown circle as well. The flowering season can last up to two months depending upon the area you are living in because the flowers start to quickly wilt in cold and extremely hot areas.
Natural Habitat
The Cineraria is native to South Africa and North Africa, but they are not native to the desert areas. These plants are native to the mountainous areas in North and South Africa, especially the mountain areas that are closer to the ocean. They can grow in moderately hot and moderately cold environments alike, but they do not like extremely cold or extremely hot conditions. The Cineraria plants thrive in slightly warmer areas. They can easily be grown in other parts of the world as well if the conditions are right for their growth. To grow them in cold areas, you should protect them from snow and extreme cold using shades. You can also use the shade of other plants to protect them from the extremely hot sun during the hot summers in warm climates.
Fun Facts
- This is not a single plant, but a group of plants that contains 36 different species, cultivars, and varieties.
- Each plant of this group has different flower color but the shape of the flower and other properties are similar.
- Most plants of the Cineraria group are shrubby, but some are also herbaceous and small.
- They grow in the moderately warm areas of North and South Africa.
- The Cineraria plants have daisy-like flowers, each flower has multiple colors and shades in its petals.
- It is grown worldwide for ornamental uses because of its beautiful flowers.
- It can be grown outdoor in most areas, but if you are living in an extremely cold or extremely hot zone, you will have to protect it from heat and snow cold conditions
growing requirements
| Soil | Well-draining, nutrient-rich, porous, and slightly acidic. Use the mixture of soil, pumice, perlite, and potting soil to create a balanced soil mixture for your plant. |
| Sun | Full sunlight exposure for at least 4 to 6 hours a day. Protect from extremely intense sunlight during the noon. |
| Water | Regulated supply of water, watering at least once every 5 to 7 days a week. Make sure that the soil remains moist most of the time. |
| Fertilizer | Use a mixture of balanced nutrients with water to feed your plant once every month. |
| Temperature | Likes to grow in moderate temperatures. |
