Osteospermum oppositifolium in festive mode

Osteospermum oppositifolium used to be called Tripteris oppositifolia. It is known as skaapbos or stinkskaapbos (foetid sheep bush) in Afrikaans.

When the conditions are favourable, plants can be fully cloaked in blooms as in the picture. The memory of the inland arid veld without flowers during the long off-season enhances the instant exhilaration when in full flower suddenly means this. Flowers can be expected from midwinter into early spring.

The coastal form of O. oppositifolium may have lighter coloured daisies than the inland ones (Manning, 2009; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997).