1: How many different shades of gerbera are there?
Probably too many to be counted. Gerberas really do come in hundreds of different colours, and can be single shades or multi-coloured, with green or black centres. But the most popular colours that you'll see are orange, yellow, red, purple, white and pink.
2: What makes a gerbera 'standard' or 'mini'?
Gerberas are part of the Asteraceae plant family and come in three types: the standard gerbera, which has large flowers; the mini gerbera which has small flowers; and specialty varieties. If a gerbera head has a diameter of 6-8cm, it is classified as a mini gerbera. A standard gerbera head ranges between 9.5-13cm. There are also extra large varieties measuring 15cm across.
3: My gerbera flowers are drooping. What can I do?
Clean your vase thoroughly, ideally using bleach. Then fill the vase with fresh water — but not too much, or the stem will start to rot. Cut a section off the bottom of the stems, then return the flowers to the vase. They will soon perk up.
4: Why are gerberas stored upside down?
Gerberas love light. If the light is coming from the right, they will grow to the right. If the light is coming from the left then… well, you can guess the rest. The end result is bent stems. Placing them upside down in a box for storage and transit means the flowers stop growing towards the light, and the stems stay straight. Gerberas with bent stems are difficult to use in bouquets or floral work.
5: Which other flowers look good with gerbera?
Gerberas like to pair up with Fritillaria, asparagus, lilacs and roses. Another strong combination is freesias, chrysanthemums and Chaenomeles japonica.
6: In the past gerbera stems were wrapped in wire. Why doesn't that happen any more?
That answer is easy: there’s no longer any need. The florist wire was used to strengthen the stem, but nowadays the flower quality is so good that the gerbera will stand up straight and tall on its own.
7: Gerberas are often used in bouquets, but can I also use them on their own?
It's no surprise that gerberas are often used in bouquets. Their easygoing shape and bright colour means they work well in conjunction with other flowers. However the flower is also very beautiful on its own. A dozen gerberas together creates a beautiful arrangement, or a row of milk bottles or jam jars each with a single flower is guaranteed to make a pleasing display.
8: Are there gerbera plants?
There certainly are — for both indoors and outdoors. You can even enjoy gerberas in the winter, thanks to the hardy garden gerbera variety.
