Osteospermum pruning?

Hello again, I've had some in pots this year. Can I prune them to flower again next year?

Thanks

Neil

 

Hiya Neil
Some osteos are hardier than others...the wisespreading ones are usually hardier.
However, yes you can prune them as hard as you like with one proviso.....if keeping indoors. If outdoors prune less severely
Cuttings are easy and it is sensible to take some, even now. They will root quickly and make good plants for next year.

 

Excellent. Many thanks.

All the best

Neil

 

As above. I've seen the ones that aren't hardy here grown as a low hedge around the edge of flower beds in Istanbul. I had mine in the greenhouse last winter, plus took lots of cuttings. It's a bit late for cuttings now, but they might take.
I got 30 cuttings taken root in cells, potted them up into 7cm pots then foolishly put them straight onto a sunny south facing windowsill and lost half of them! Ooops. Fortunately I've got later cuttings as well.

 

They make sort of hedges here too cinnamon.....varieties like Tresco Purple, Cannington Roy and White Whirligig will grow large and flower intermittently during the winter too

 

I've never found any of the shrubby ones, ie. the ones sold as bedding plants, to be winter hardy around here.
The spreading kinds are though, O. jucundum which forms a mat and needs hacking back occasionally.
The bedding plant types are best overwintered as cuttings or pruned back and taken under cover in winter.

 

Can grow the Voltage series throughout the year here Pete, at least Voltage Yellow. Looks superb esp in winter. Hoping they will set of my double black hellebore in early spring

 

Many thanks, all.