Name: Named after Traugott Gerber, a German doctor. Usually pronounced JUR-bra. Infrequently called Transvaal Daisy or Barberton Daisy.

Origin: South Africa (Transvaal and Cape Province)

Color: Gerberas offer an incredibly wide range of colours with every colour except blue represented (including fashionable shades of buff and maroon).

Availability: All year round.

Varieties: There are over 200 varieties of gerbera and breeders have developed many variants from serrated or frilly petals to double flowers and extra wide petals. A new developement is the mini-gerbera or 'germini' which have the same wide choice of colours but are smaller and more appropriate for smaller flower arrangements.

Care Tips: Need warmth and bright light.

History: Little-known 20 years ago, but now extremely popular and fashionable. Gerbera were first imported to Europe in the 19th century.