Gerbera

The birth flowers for October 8th are the Orange Gerbera (Gerbera Hybrids) and Parsley (Petroselinum crispum).
Gerbera is a popular birth flower and will continue to be featured (Yellow Gerbera is the birth flower for October 12th. Pink Gerbera and Japanese Apricot are the birth flowers for October 24th).

【Birth Flowers for October 8th】
Left: Gerbera (Gerbera Hybrids) Right: Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

What is Gerbera?
Gerbera ranks second only to the Chrysanthemum in terms of shipping volume. It is loved worldwide for its rich variety of colors, with a predominance of warm hues, and is used in cut flowers such as bouquets and arrangements, as well as potted plants.
The general flower meanings for Gerbera are "Hope" and "Gratitude." "Hope" comes from its uplifting appearance, with the flower opening wide and facing upwards, and "Gratitude" is used when giving it as a cut flower or gift to express deep feelings.

Gerbera (Scientific name: Gerbera Hybrids) is a semi-hardy perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Gerbera in the Asteraceae (Daisy) family, native to South Africa.
It is also known by the Japanese alternate names Afurika-senbonyari (アフリカ千本槍, African Thousand Spears), Senbonyari (千本槍, Thousand Spears), and Hanaguruma (花車, Flower Cart).

In a broad sense, the term Gerbera refers to the cultivated varieties (Gerbera Hybrids) grown in Cambridge, UK, around 1890.
In a narrow sense, it refers to the wild species from which the broad-sense Gerbera originated, specifically Gerbera jamesonii.

The modern Gerbera (Gerbera Hybrids) originates from hybrids of Gerbera jamesonii and Gerbera viridifolia, produced through repeated crossing and selective breeding.

The plant height ranges from 15 cm (6 in) for dwarf varieties suitable for potting, up to 40–80 cm (16–31 in) for cut flower varieties, and around 80 cm (31 in) for tall cut flower varieties.
The stems are long and slender, giving the flower an elegant and clean appearance.
The blooming season is April to July and October, and it blooms year-round in warmer regions.
The flower diameter is 6–15 cm (2.4–6 in), and it has many colors: white, pink, red, crimson, orange, yellow, bi-colors, and various shades.
It is cultivated year-round in greenhouses and is widely available in the market.
Its uses include cut flowers and flower arrangements.

Origin of the Name
Genus Name Origin : The genus name "Gerbera" is named after the German physician and botanist, Dr. Traugott Gerber (1710–1743), who discovered it.
Species Epithet Origin : The species epithet "jamesonii" is named after the Scottish collector, Robert Jameson.

One of the NASA Eco Plant 50
Gerbera was selected as one of the NASA Eco Plant 50 for its effectiveness in removing airborne pollutants, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, which are causative agents of sick building syndrome.
The flower's appearance is similar to Arctotis (Arctotis × Hybrida).

Flower Meanings (Flower Language)
Category : Detail
Overall : "Hope," "Gratitude"
Orange/Vermilion Red : "Mystery"
Red : "Mystery," "Burning, Mysterious Love," "Passion"
White : "Faithfulness," "Integrity"
Pink : "Sublime Beauty," "Gratitude"

Category : Detail
Common Name : Gerbera
Scientific Name : Gerbera Hybrids
Other Names : Afurika-senbonyari (African Thousand Spears), Senbonyari (Thousand Spears), Hanaguruma (Flower Cart)
Classification : Kingdom: Plantae → Clade: Angiosperms → Clade: Eudicots → Order: Asterales → Family: Asteraceae → Genus: Gerbera
Native Region : South Africa
Life Cycle : Semi-hardy perennial herb
Plant Height : 15 cm (Dwarf, potted) to 80 cm (Tall, cut flowers), 40–80 cm (Cut flower varieties)
Blooming Period : April–July, October (Year-round in warm regions)
Flower Diameter : 6–15 cm
Flower Color : White, Pink, Red, Crimson, Orange, Yellow, Bi-color, Various shades
Special Note : NASA Eco Plant

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