I can't tell you what the difference is, but I did sow both as well. From what I can see so far both kinds of sprouts look exactly alike, which is totally weird.

Simone

There's Osteospermum, and then there is Dimorphotheca, both of which are called African Daisies.

Here's what a Yahoo search pulled up:

Here is a link that might be useful: Osteospermum vs. Dimorphotheca

I've been doing a little research, trying to figure out what type of seeds I have. I've purchased "Osteospermum Glistening White" from Thompson and Morgan, although I've done some googling, and some people have suggested Thompson and Morgan mislabeled these and they are Dimorphotheca. I've been trying to figure this out to see if I can save seeds that will come true. From what I've read, saved Osteospermum seed may not have a high viability rate. Needless to say, I'm kind of confused.

My Glistening White African Daisy seeds are fan shaped, and have germinated :)

I had this same question a while back. Seems that they were both dimorphotheca at one time, then the genus was split and the dimorphotheca came to refer only to the annuals, while the osteospermum contained only the perennials (in the warmer zones, I guess). The word dimorphotheca means "two shaped fruit" - the plant produces two types of seeds: one flat, oval and kinda wide-ish, the other like a little twig. The seeds of the osteospermum are fat little ovals.

From your description of the seeds you have, seems like you might have both types.

PV

Also called AD are Venidium, Gazania and Arctotis.
I got some labled Osteospermum 'African Moon' from Value Seed and these were not fan shaped; just narrow tan oval'ish seed.
I sowed another commercial pack received in trade labeled African Daisy Mix and these DID have fan shaped seeds....tan almost heart shaped with one narrow ridge in center. To me from what I can see of the foliage on the pack (Ferry Morse)it looks like the Venidium I grew last year, BUT the seeds I received from that commercial pack labeled Venidium 'Jaffa Ice' were NOT fanned shaped LOL!!!! Maybe the seed of the last two are the same but one source has cleaned seed and the other doesn't?

The foliage of the Dimorphotheca species that I could find look nothing like Vendium either, but sure do look like the stuff labeled Osteospermum. OMG what a confusing bunch!!! Interestingly their is a species called Dimorphotheca sinuata and when I search for 'African Moon' I find Osteospermum sinuata 'African Moon'. I ALSO searched for Dimorphotheca 'African Moon' and found the same plant :D

Yep, it is pretty confusing. When I've searched African Daisy Glistening White, I've found it listed as 'Dimorphotheca Pluvialis'.

I also have Ostespermum African Moon from Valueseeds which I haven't sown yet, and the seeds look the same as the Glistening White variety.

I went through this same mix-up last winter. By doing lots of research, I realized that Dimorphotheca seems to have flowers in the yellow range only, is annual, and has flat,papery, pale seeds. It seems that Osteospermum has shades in white/blue/purple shades, is perennial, has little brown triangular ridged seeds, and the seeds are quite expensive when compared to Dimorphotheca. For this reason, I am trying my best to stick to the Latin names if I have them, as my friend who owns a seed company has been trying to impress upon me for years! The Dimorphotheca seeds I got in a trade this year have germinated and are doing well. A gardening neighbour had promised to split some of her Osteospermums this spring and share them with me but unfortunately, she passed away suddenly of a stroke on Dec. 26. I will miss her so much this year. Her house has been sold and I hope the new owners don't destroy her garden. She was 3 years into a 5 year project to create a meadow garden and it was coming along so nicely. I'll buy seeds and plant them in her memory.
Northerner.

Thanks; I did purch Osteo Glistening White 2 years ago, and LOVED them...very light and airy and profuse if anyone hasn't tried them yet. Didn't know they were also called A.Daisies. Learn something new every day...They were very pretty next to Ruby Flax.

I did put in the yellow/orange/cream variety last year, and they were just "ok." By that I mean that the flower was very nice, but the foliage was weak and droopy. I'm sure it's just the nature of the plant...it mounded ok, but was pretty floppy.

But alas, my garden morphs into something totally different every year because I like to try EVERYTHING!!!

Thanks again!

Mmqchdygg, I tried the yellow/orange/white ones last year too, and mine looked a bit scraggly/leggy, but I noticed the pots the local nursery was selling were quite lush and a solid mass of blooms. I planted mine out individually, but I think this year, I will HOS them to try to achieve a fuller look. So far though, only one sprout in that container, so may need to resow that one.

Bonnie

I was reading on the www.osteospermum.com website that you should pinch the center out when you transplant. It will help in keeping the flower bunches thicker and bushier.

I had this confusion a year or so ago also - and I'm still not clear on it, lol. I'll have to read through the above posts more closely when I have a bit more time. That's one reason why I like to know latin names when I'm buying seeds.

Northerner, so sorry to hear about your neighbor. You must miss her. Hopefully the new owners will be gardeners - or will become gardeners! - or maybe they will let you have some of her plants if they are not interested in continuing her garden. It would be a nice way to remember her.

:)
Dee

Hi All,
There is a lot of confusion about these seeds some of which is caused by the seed companies. Some seed sold as Osteospermum is not Osteospermum. It is Dimorphotheca. Dimorphotheca means two types of seeds off the same plant. This is really neat, but unusual. Dimorphotheca is an annual.
True Osteospermum seed looks like small dark Sunflower seed. It has a hard outer shell. The first time I received these the sender said to shell them before sowing which is a pain. I've found with wintersowing, it is not necessary.
I don't have a photo of true Ostespermum seed at the moment. I'll have to remember to do that. True Osteospermum is a tender perennial. It can be brought in over the winter to keep until next spring.

Below is a photo of the two types of Dipmorphotheca seeds. The one labeled Osteospermum is NOT osteospermum. I received it as that and was confused at the time. It is the one variant of Dimorphotheca seeds.
The Arctotis is another type of African daisy to make everything even more confusing, lol.
{{gwi:378295}}
I hope this helps,
Remy

Can any of these be sown/grown/and flower in zone 5 (Northeast PA)? I understand that they will not be perennial for me, regardless of what they "truly" are.

Thanks, LcGrace

gwg-
I'm in Z5 just north of you in NH, and I have grown both the orange/cream/yellow variety of African Daisy, as well as Thompson & Morgan's "Glistening White" osteospermum. Both do excellent.
As an FYI, the orange/cream/yellow ones, while very pretty, can be a bit gangly in the garden. They flop all over the place, and trying to 'right' them only makes them look worse. So I just leave them be and let them put on the show that 'they' want to, which is still nice. Just put something else next to them so they aren't so obviously flopping all over the place.