Representatives of the horticultural industry have chosen the Gerbera daisy as their selection for the 2013: Year of the Flower award. The award announcements are made by the National Garden Bureau in the late fall.

The criteria used for selection includes, “easy to grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse and versatile.” I don’t mean to sound like a skeptic, but if you are looking for a gardening challenge this year, you might try a bed of Gerbera daisies.

The growing zones are listed as zones 8-11, and the flower is considered a tender perennial in all other zones. A tender perennial in our growing area should be considered a tender annual.

Gerbera is an extensive genus and a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). There are approximately 30 species in the wilds of South America, Africa and tropical Asia.

The Gerbera genus was classified in 1737 and named after German botanist Traugott Gerber. It took until the beginning of the 20th century for an interest in breeding to accelerate, and that was in France and England.

Two world wars put the breeding on hold until the early 1970s, but finally, during the late ’70s, breeding of potted Gerberas began. How sad that it took all those years to really become recognized.

Sakata Seed in Japan developed the first Gerbera for potted plant usage; it was available in five colors. The colors were a big hit with consumers who had never seen daisy-type flowers in colors other than white. Currently the plant is available in 10 colors and in flower forms ranging from single flowers with two layers of petals to spider flowers featuring a unique form with thinner and more pointed petals resembling sea urchins.

Gerberas are the fifth most used cut flowers in the world after roses, carnations, chrysanthemums and tulips. Their popularity is due in part to their vivid colors, some with an almost iridescent quality, and to their prolonged life as a cut flower. The flower evokes cheerfulness and is dramatic enough to make a statement as a single stem in a vase.

According to the fact sheet supplied by the National Garden Bureau, the planting media should be coarse and well-drained, with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.5. A high pH results in iron chlorosis, characterized by yellow striping of the upper foliage. A pH below 5.5 causes excess manganese to accumulate in the lower foliage, characterized by black spotting or patches.

In southern climates, Gerberas are planted to only receive morning sun. In northern climates, they are planted in full sun. It is recommended that they not be planted against a brick wall or near surfaces that reflect intense heat: in temperatures too warm, they may stop blooming.

Gerberas are susceptible to a disease called powdery mildew caused by moisture that remains on the leaf surface overnight. Early morning watering allows the foliage to dry off early in the day.

Powdery mildew appears as whitish spots that spread quickly over the entire surface of the leaf. The white powdery growth is a fungus that over time becomes gray to tan/brown felt-like patches. Leaves may become stunted, curled and chlorotic and eventually wither and dry up. The mildew pathogens are host-specific and the mildew that attacks Gerbera daisies will not spread to melons or zucchini.

Once the disease takes hold, it is difficult to control. Cultural preventatives are worth reviewing.

• Remove the infected leaves.

• Do not crowd the plants.

• Provide good air circulation.

• Keep plants well watered and stress-free.

• Grow resistant plants when available.

• Avoid excess nitrogen application, as succulent new growth is more susceptible.

Starting seeds indoors at home may be more involved than you want to undertake. According to the Park Seed catalog, the seeds may take up to 30 days to germinate and, of course, that would be under controlled conditions of supplemental light and watering.

Seeds should be started 6-8 weeks before our planting-out date, which in this case — because it’s a frost-tender plant — means about the second week of June. If the seeds take about 30 days to germinate, that means they must be pretty tiny.

As much as I love starting seeds, I think I will pass this one up and wait for my favorite nursery to bring in the plants.