Felicia is named after Herr Felix, a German official who died in 1846. The genus consists of 85 species of which 79 species are found in southern Africa. The majority are found in the Cape Province. It is also occurs in other parts of southern and tropical Africa to Arabia.

The genus Felicia ( astertjie ) consists of annuals, herbaceous perennials and small shrubs. Other interesting felicias worth growing in the garden include:

• Felicia aethiopica subsp. aethiopica (wild aster), is an evergreen, forms a compact and spreading shrub, It grows to a height of 0.5-1 m. The leaves are green and 2-5 mm wide. The flowers are pale blue with yellow centres, borne singly at the tips of stems. Flowering occurs throughout the year.
• Felicia heterophylla (true-blue daisy), is fast growing, forms a bushy spring annual up to 0.3 m tall. Flowers are blue with a blue centre and appear in spring. It is a Cape endemic. Plant with other spring annuals such as Heliophila coronopifolia (wild flax), Dimorphotheca sinuata (African daisy) and Ursinia cakilefolia (glansoogbergmagriet).
• Felicia echinata (dune daisy) is an evergreen herbaceous perennial, up to 0.6 m high. Flowers are mauve to white with yellow centres and leaves are spiky, flowering from April to October and is an ideal water-wise plant for any garden.

• Felicia elongata (tricolour felicia) is a striking perennial with white and mauve flowers during August and September. Plant with other interesting perennials such as Chironia baccifera (Christmas berry) and Sutera cordata.
• Felicia filifolia (fine-leaved felicia) is a hardy perennial or small shrub, 0.6-1 m high. Leaves are fine and needle-like. Flowers are purple to mauve during October to December. Best used in rocky garden pockets, as filler plants or planted in masses to create a colourful border.