Gerbera ‘Cartwheel Strawberry Twist’

‘Cartwheel Strawberry Twist’

Bold, bright colors—that’s what comes to mind when we think of gerberas, and it’s one reason why they’ve remained so popular after all these years. They also pack a solid punch for very little maintenance and can actually be quite versatile. Whether we use them for indoor or outdoor displays we know we can count on these charming African daisies to get noticed, and elicit more than their share of smiles from the crowd. 

Smaller blooms at the center of each flower are tipped in strawberry

Our newest gerbera selection for 2017 is ‘Cartwheel Strawberry Twist’—a unique variety with big bold blooms. Kathryn Verlinden from Syngenta is the breeder behind this series. She was inspired by the huge range of color patterns existing in cut flower gerberas and started experimenting with the introduction of cut flower genetics into pot varieties. As she puts it: “Cartwheel offers the color explosion of a cut flower gerbera bouquet to pots and containers for both the home and patio.” 

Right she is—it’s got flower power. These huge semi-double flowers simply cover the plant. You can expect to see blooms like these continuously throughout the summer.

Oversized blooms have subtle variations of color

This is simply a stunning, unique series—there are subtle variations of color within each different variety. We like ‘Strawberry Twist’ in particular for its beautiful range: soft yellow, deep red, and shades of pink and cream. Each flower is highlighted by a smaller bloom at its center, with petals that are tipped in strawberry.

Cartwheel—the first gerbera series bred specifically for containers

Cartwheel is actually the first gerbera series bred specifically for container growth and boy, does it do its job; these oversized blooms on strong, sturdy stems make for eye-catching planters and window boxes. Plants are hardy and perform well in sun or partial shade, plus they stay very compact so containers look nice and tidy.

This variety won the FleuroSelect FleuroStar Award for 2013/2014 and with good reason—it’s got an extra dose of wow factor. You’ll find that patio-ready pots full of ‘Strawberry Twist’ have immediate appeal on the retail bench. Customers are drawn in by the unusual spring color patterns on these huge blooms—great for Mother’s Day and Easter sales. 

We grow ‘Cartwheel Strawberry Twist’ in the 4.5-inch pot.