The genus was named in honour of German botanist and medical doctor Traugott Gerber [de] (1710–1743),[2] who travelled extensively in Russia and was a friend of Carl Linnaeus.

[3] Gerbera species are tufted, caulescent, perennial herbs, often with woolly crown, up to 80 cm high.

Leaves are all in rosette, elliptical with entire or toothed margin or lobed, petiolate or with a petaloid base, pinnately veined, often leathery and felted beneath.

Single to several flowering stems from each rosette bear bracteate or ebracteate, simple, one-headed inflorescence-capitulum.

Formerly included numerous species once considered members of Gerbera are now placed in other genera: Chaptalia, Leibnitzia, Mairia, Perdicium, Trichocline, and Oreoseris.