[3] The genus was named in honour of German botanist and medical doctor Traugott Gerber (1710 — 1743).

Gerbera ambigua is an acaulescent tufted perennial herb with thickened woody rootstock and naked flowering scapes up to 35 cm high.

Flower-heads (capitula) are 2–5 cm in diameter, ray florets are white to yellow abobe and pink to coppery reddish on reverse.

It is able to survive both dry, cold winters and annual fires which are typical of the region in which it is found.

[citation needed] The species is pollinated by many different flying insects including beetles which feed on the pollen.