A Quick Guide to The Gerbera Daisy
The gerbera daisy is an annual flower with an appearance somewhat similar to the common daisy. The Gerbera genus is a group of plants, with about 30 wild species, commonly used for ornamental purposes. The gerbera daisies, discovered relatively recently in 1884 in South Africa, were specifically bred in England during the late 19th century to enhance their attractive characteristics as an ornamental or decorative plant.
From this point gerbera daisies only continued to grow in popularity as travelers brought them home. Now the gerbera daisy is commercially valued as one of the most popular of all cut flowers. Today the gerbera daisy is cultivated for commercial sale primarily in Colombia and the Netherlands. There are many different hybrids, which vary widely in characteristics such as size, shape, color and markings.
Gerbera daisies have sizable blossoms much like those of sunflowers. You can get them in a wide variety of shades which run from a simple white to a bold red. Because of their huge, striking blooms, they represent joy and high spirits. Therefore, these flowers are ideal to use in a gift basket or centerpiece, either to cheer someone up or to commemorate a special event.
The human meaning we give gerbera daisies is similar to the meaning we give to other daises. Daisies are time-honored symbols of beauty, purity, and innocence. The gerbera daisy symbolizes these human attributes too. But, because of its large flowering head and the wide assortment of colors, the gerbera daisy also symbolizes happiness and good cheer.
Gerbera daisies make terrific presents for all sorts of happy events like birthdays and anniversaries, since they come in a broad assortment of varieties and hues and also vary in their significance. They make a perfect gift to cheer someone up as well, perhaps an invalid or somebody who is recovering from an illness. They are pretty enough to use all by themselves in a daisy bouquet, but they are also lovely when mixed with other blossoms in a centerpiece or gift basket.
Just like a rose, you can give a single gerbera daisy all by itself, or as part of a larger assortment or gift package. No matter how you choose to bring sunshine and cheer to the lives of others, fresh cut gerbera daisies will be appreciated by anybody. You can purchase flower delivery from your computer, or from your local flower shop today.