Cut Gerberas are Ontario’s second largest cut flower crop. Cut gerberas are the fifth most used cut flower in the world and a favorite of florists, just next to carnations and roses. Ontario cut gerberas are available throughout the year.

Gerberas are long living, cheerful, decorative flowers that are part of the sunflower and daisy family. Roughly thirty wild species of Gerberas can be found growing in South Africa, Africa, Madagascar, and tropical Asia.

Gerberas are model organisms in the study of flower formation.  The distinctive large capitulum has the appearance of a single flower but is actually composed of hundreds of individual flowers.  Rich in the chemical compound coumarin, Gerberas have a sweet scent reminiscent of newly mown hay.

Ontario grown cut Gerberas are usually sold without their leaves (because the cut leaf ages much faster than the flower), in a cardboard holder that protects the blooms and keeps the long hollow stems from bending.  Carefully remove the stems from the holder and trim the ends with a sharp knife.

Cut Gerberas lend themselves to long-stemmed vase arrangements on their own or as companions with many others flowers. They also make eye-catching, short-stemmed, hand-tied bouquets, accessorized with simple greens like Salal or Asparagus Fern. Place in bright light and refresh the water every few days.