Arctotis Pumpkin Pie ['Archnah'] Orange African Daisy) - An evergreen perennial with a compact habit to 10 to 14 inches tall with velvety silver-gray foliage and bright pumpkin-orange flowers that appear continuously from April through November. Plant in full sun. Very low water needs. Hardy to 20-25 degrees F (Zone 9). Likely a Venidio-Arctotis hybrid or Arctotis Harlequin Hybrid (syn. Arctotis hybrida, X Venidioarctotis) which involved crossing and back crossing several species including Arctotis venusta grandis and Venidium [now Acrtotis] fastuosa. Hardy to 20 to 25° F. This plant is the product of a breeding program conducted by Graham Brown in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia with the objective of creating new early flowering compact Arctotis cultivars with interesting-colored flowers. This plant is a sister seedling to the paler Arctotis Sun Spot Orange ['Archley'] that originated from a cross made in 1998 between Arctotis 'Flame' and Arctotis 'Silver Carpet'. It had a US Patent applied for on March 10, 2003 and was granted the now expired patent PP14,732 in April 2004. This patented plant became unavailable in 2018 and we were no longer are able to offer it are now able to propagate and sell this charming variety since this patent expired early in 2023. .
The genus name Arctotis is derived from Greek words 'arktos', which means "a bear" and 'otos' meaning "an ear" with the implication that the scales of the flower and fruit pappus look like the ears of a bear. The reason for the specific epithet is not clear with the possibility that it come from the Greek word 'stoechas' that refers to a type of mint coupled with 'folia' meaning leaf.
The information about Arctotis Pumpkin Pie ['Archnah'] displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |