Gerberas brings a smile to our faces and makes great gifts to ourselves and others

Gerberas bring a smile with them because there is a myriad of colours and like a sunny day lift our moods, which is a proven fact and makes a wonderful gift to ourselves or others. I always stock a large selection of Gerberas when they are in season, with their blushing blossom. The Gerbera is actually the 5^th most liked flower in the world. There are lots of colours including white, cream, deep red, apricot, pink, orange and many more. Pop into the shop and have a look or phone Nicola at 02920 868 087 and ask what colours are in stock today and if you want particular colours. I will get the colours of Gerberas you want.

The Gerbera was brought to Europe in the early 1700’s with the Dutch being the largest growers and they internally sell and export to the rest of Europe, as well as the UK. In this century, the Gerbera is a very popular flower, bursting with different colours. There are at least 26 different strains and is one of the most popular flowers in the world and comes in every single colour of the rainbow except blue. The flower likes a moderate climate. Many botanists claim to have found the original Gerbera. The true Western identifier of the Gerbera was a German called Traugott Gerber who was a botanist in South Africa around 1700 but there is no shortage of botanists claiming strains. The flower is native to South Africa and was commonly described as the “African Daisy” or “Transvaal daisy” and the “Barberton”. To the best of our knowledge, the Gerbera was first introduced to us by J.D Hooker in an 1889 Botanical publication in the UK. However, in the early to mid-1700 a preceding strain of Gerbera, named the Jamesonii is also commonly known as the “Barberton” Gerbera because of its geographical location in South Africa. It was named Jamesonii, as a reminder and honour of Robert Jameson who lived near Barberton. Although, the species is actually named Epithet by Harry Bolus.

Thus, to our knowledge, there were 3 strains of Gerbera common within South Africa, which became a Dutch colony in 1642 and without doubt, they will have been very well acquainted with all of the naturally grown strains and found their way back to Holland.

Only in the last 50 years have Gerbera sales been very strong in the UK. Gerberas, just like almost all flowers appear to have not only a meaning but the colours have meanings. I am not sure when and who created the flower meaning or the colour meanings but in the Western world, flowers and meanings became prolific during the 16^th century onwards and as far as the Western floral meanings, probably stretch back to the 17^th Century and in South Africa, well before. In the UK for example, the Gerbera is looked at as a flower that helps to reduce the stressful days, which would sync with other cultures because it means the sun is shining and we are all getting vitamin D and colours are healers. The Victorians will have gone into far more depth within the hidden meanings because it was the fashion of the day. I suppose it is like scenting writing paper but with greater subtlety. The colour can always be denied but the heavily scented paper is not so easy to wriggle out of.

In essence, the Gerbera is sending friendship, purity of thought, in many cases love like you should be thinking of your aunty and friendship. To brighten up someone’s day. The simplicity of the flower brings all good thoughts. It’s olden day Morse code for thinking of you and wishing a smile.