Actually, I think your unknown gazania looks like one of the 'Talent' Series, also listed as Gazania hybrida by some sources, and commonly marketed - desirable, I'd venture, depending on what the consumer is looking for in a gazania, LOL!
Are you wondering about a comparison of hybrids to the species from which the crosses arose? On that note, it's often difficult to even define the "straight species", given all the variation that occurs (which allows various "selections" from the species to be chosen for propagation).
Or are you wondering about comparison between various selections? Interesting question, either way.

Wow those are some really nice gazanias! I have the regular old Talent series and they're pretty but some are kinda dull. I actually have one that looks just like your yellow one there. I would take some pics but they're folded up for the night already - which raises another point. I might not bother with gazanias next year because I work full time and by the time I get home they are asleep!

On your topic of hybrids, the first thing that comes to mind is columbines. I have seen some REALLY nice fancy ones but all I have are the little old wild ones. I think they're kinda subtly pretty though.

{{gwi:763420}}

You are right, Lori. I just went looking for that gazania and the 'Talent' series was where I placed it, also. And you are also right when you say it is commonly marketed and desired by some. My post sounds a bit insulting and I certainly don't mean it like that.

Are you wondering about a comparison of hybrids to the species from which the crosses arose? Or are you wondering about comparison between various selections?

I think I just wanted to get a discussion going on whether many of the new hybrids are seen as an improvement in color, growth habit, etc. to some of the original species. I still love some of the original species, as I know them, but love some of the hybridizing that they have done to come up with all of the different varieties now available. Taking the gazanias as an example, I really like the 'Tiger Series' for the size of blooms, color patterns and the profusion of blooms. That being said, I think there are many plants that don't need to be hybridized to be beautiful. Just looking for others input on the subject.

Shauna

Thanks for the clarification, Shauna.
I was just wondering what comparison you were looking for, given that the 'Talent' example seems to be a hybrid too. (But I didn't take it that you were "insulting" 'Talent' either - though it wouldn't bother me one way or the other even if you were. The "value" of these appearance of these various flowers is in the eye of the beholder, and thus it is opinions that make discussions interesting! )
This sounds like a cue for me to drag out my old pix of the hybrid, Lilium 'White Henryi', and one of its parents, L. henryi...but I'll refrain for once. Other than creating another beautiful flower, this hybrid gives the advantage, I suppose, of providing a plant with some exotic characteristics but greater hardiness and earlier bloom than its other parent, L. leucanthemum v. centifolium. (At least, I assume the latter is probably marginally hardy and likely very late blooming...I haven't run across it to try.)

My favorite columbine is actually the one Northspruce has shown, Aquilegia canadensis. I know there are selections of it (though I've never come across one), but I've never heard of any hybrids of it - are there any being marketed? There must be some, I guess. (Intentional hybrids, I mean... I think mine have crossed with A. vulgaris and/or its hybrids to produce some mutt canadensis-types...paler colors, longer spurs...which I weed out.) Though this is a comparison of different species (and so doesn't strictly fit the topic, I guess), I find an advantage of A. canadensis to the A. vulgaris hybrids is that the foliage stays nice all summer (other than the flower stalks drying off), whereas I find vulgaris types prone to yellowing and mildew, round about now.

Wow, you got some big Gazania's there Shauna, very nice! I see youÂre getting to be a pro with your new camera! Very detailed, crisp photos!

I'm really disappointed with my GazaniaÂs this year. I started 'Kiss Mahogany seeds that I had ordered on sale at Guru Garden for half price, anyway they are supposed to be a bold, rich mahogany-red, instead I obviously got F2 seeds, pale, dull, orangey-brown blooms. Next year IÂll order my Gazania seeds from Stokes as usual ;)

I'll take a photo later on so that you the difference.

Good luck trying to overwinter Shasta 'Crazy Daisy', IÂve tried several times with no luck.

Sharon
(back early from the Lake, hubby sprained his ankle)

Thanks for the insight into 'Crazy Daisy'. I thought they were so very hardy for us. I haven't got them yet. I was going to pick up a couple with my part of my credit note at the nursery. Anyone else had any luck or not?

Still trying to learn my camera. The photos I've been posting so far are all on automatic mode. Haven't had much time to sit down with the CD for the manual and try to figure out the modes of manual operation. I did go and get rechargeable batteries and a bigger memory chip, tho. That always helps. LOL

Sorry to hear about your gazanias, Sharon. I remember you describing the 'Kiss Mahogany' gazanias and my thinking that they should be really pretty. I think that is part of my point in this thread. However, admittedly, I missed the boat on the 'Talent' gazania. Actually, Lori, in A-Z Ency., all of the gazanias listed are hybrids. What is the original plant that they hybridized them all from? Rhetorical question. Is it safe to say that most annuals that we grow are hybrids, mainly because they are supposed to be bred to be showier and more colorful than their original parents? But, sometimes the fancier hybrids are really great and other times they just don't measure up to our expectations. I started off being a bit disappointed with my 'Fragrantissima' sweet peas. They seemed to only be producing white and light pinks and didn't seem that fragrant. On closer inspection, tho, I love them. They have colors in them that look like they have been air-brushed, specifically a true burgundy/white combo that is really striking. And the fragrance, when I brought some in to put on the kitchen table, is wonderful.

Rotten luck on your hubby's sprained ankle, Sharon. Did he make you break camp, while he watched from the lawnchair? LOL (been there, done that) Although, my DH has been an absolute gem about so much since I blew my knee out last summer that I really owe him a lot. He's out there (on holidays) right now, cutting capstones for the front planter and he got the first part of the deck "decked" last week. Don't know if he'll do the second phase this week or not. He does need a couple of days of actual holiday. I keep finding "projects" for him, poor guy.

Shauna

Shauna, don't give up on the 'Crazy Daisy' just yet, remember I live out in the open, so you may have better luck since you live in a cozy zone ;) Make sure to cover it up with loose straw the first year or so and I'm sure your plant will have a better chance of survival.

Have you ever grown any of the Heirloom Sweet Pea's, particularly 'Matucana', if you haven't, you got to try some of those next year. Blooms are not as grand as the newer cultivars out these days, but let me tell yah, you can smell them 100 yds away ;)

I think DH is just faking it so that he doesn't have to get started on the deck, just kidding, donÂt tell him that I said that ;) Breaking camp ainÂt so bad, we have a camper and I just throw everything in when we're ready to go, then I organize when I get home ;)

Shauna, I only got a couple of years out of my seed-grown 'Crazy Daisies', and they were definitely moe daisy than crazy, if you know what I mean. A bit of a disappointment. If you try them, I hope you have better luck. If you get them from the nursery, they should be sufficiently crazy to merit the name. ;-)

Doris

Shauna, attached is a list of gazania species, but I have no idea which were used to result in the commonly-grown hybrids. (The only one that sounds familiar is G. linearis. I once planted a selection called 'Colorado Gold' that was said to be, I think, zone 4 hardy, but it didn't make it at that time...haven't come across another since.)

I sense, and it seems to be supported by paging through Rix and Phillips' Annuals and Biennials, that the majority of popular annuals we grow are selections from species, not hybrids.

Hmm, this is interesting... in paging through the same book, I also see that the Oenothera pallida for which I probably paid about $14, is categorized as an annual or biennial. Grrr, I don't mind trying darn near any perennial that stands a faint chance here, but it does bug me a little to unwittingly buy a possible annual, that was billed as a perennial! Well, I do hope it reseeds!

Here is a link that might be useful: list of gazania species

Interesting that when you look at all of those species, at least those that are illustrated on that page, it makes the question deepen as to how the breeders come up with all of the hybrid selections that they do. Thanks for looking that up for me, Lori. I may delve into that a bit more myself.

I just found this link for you. I don't know how much to trust for a perennial that is listed by a company with "annual" in its name, tho. LOL. Actually, I'll look it up in some of my other books and get back to you on what I find.

Shauna

Here is a link that might be useful: Oenothera pallida

I looked and looked and could only find Oenothera pallida in Phillips/Rix, Perennial Gardening Guide- John M. Valleau, and A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants - Brickell/Cole. Both Valleau & Brickell/Cole state it as a perennial, zone 4. Valleau describes it as a short lived perennial.

There is hope, Lori. And yes, it "self seeds if happy" - Valleau. Hope this helps. : )

Shauna

Now you tell me, does it look anything like Gazania 'Kiss Mahogany'? LOL

Sharon

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:763411}}

Sun fading? Just kidding. You're right. I'm not even sure that is part of the 'Kiss' series. I've googled looking for this one and still can't find anything. Gee, have you started another hybrid of your own?

Shauna

Hmmmm aren't those gazania call 'frosts' or something like that?

Sierra

Marilena the owner of Guru Garden apparently has read this post and is refunding me for the Gazania seeds that I had ordered. By golly, I surely wasnÂt asking or expecting to get my money backÂalthough I did not get what I was expecting theyÂre still not too bad to look at. LOL, but again talk about great customer service to do so!

I know its not GG fault what I ended up with, she figures that she was indeed sent the right seed from the supplier that she bought her seed from and that the Seeds' picture may have been deceptive, of course beyond her control. She also said that it is unfortunate how the breeders are playing with plant photographs these days and that you should see some of the pictures she receives, they are so distorted and the colors donÂt even look real. ItÂs so upsetting because it fools us and the end the customer.

Anyway, Marilena if by chance you are reading this, again thank you so much for your wonderful personal customer service!

Hugs,
Sharon

Here are 2 other websites where you can
see samples of Gazania Kiss Mahogany:

Now this photo is more like it ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: Link 1 - Gazania Kiss Mahogany

other link...

Here is a link that might be useful: Link 2 - Gazania Kiss Mahogany