Growing Daisies: Varieties, Care & Planting

“I will go pick daisies and have a happy heart” - Kimber Annie Engstrom

The epitome of spring and summer, and childhood innocence, the Daisy is renowned for its cheerful presence and sunny disposition! Daisies are some of the most beautiful flowers in the floral world!

Beyond the wild Daisies that you see popping up along the roadsides and in ditches, there is a vast array of cultivars available for your garden! With the white petals and orange center disks, Daisies are one of the most easily recognizable flowers around!

It is believed that the name Daisy comes from the Old English 'Daes eage', meaning 'day's eye', a reference to how Daisy's flowers open at dawn each day.

All About Daisies
Using Daisies in Your Landscape
Nature Hills Nursery Top 5 Daisy Plants
Easy Daisy Care!
Love Daisies Or Love Them Not?

All About Daisies

Daisies are found all over the world, except in Antarctica! Daisies (Leucanthemum) are now in the Asteraceae family of flowering plants, one of the largest families of plants in the world, and comprise almost 10% of all flowering plants on Earth.

Forming mounds of green foliage that are almost succulent, longer than narrow, and have toothy lobes. The Daisy flower is really two flowers in one: disk florets and petal-like white ray florets. There is a ring of disk florets on the outside of the orange-to-yellow disk that are actually little flowers! Divided into three main types, the Daisy family includes:

Common Daisies (Bellis perennis)
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum superbum)

While similar, Gerbera Daisies (Gerbera) are not in the same family as true Daisies, and neither are African Daisy or Cape Daisy (Osteospermum). They have the same flower type and petals, but are in a different plant family.

Shasta Daisies tend to have larger centers and taller stems, while Common Daisies can be smaller and spread more. Both are incredibly easy to grow for even the newest gardeners or the busiest gardeners alike!

Using Daisies in Your Landscape

Daisies have had a long history not only for making Daisy chains and foretelling if someone loves you or not, but Daisies also have a long history of herbal medicine with therapeutic properties that ease aches and pains.

a fun and youthful addition to a Children's Garden! Daisies are a bright and colorful mailbox garden plant, a small garden specimen, and a large landscape focal point! Daisies even work great in seating areas, mixed planters as a filler and specimen, or as a sunny porch and patio container garden!

Both refined and wildflower-like for front yard garden beds and beautiful as middle to back-of-the-border accents, Daisies will delight your mixed perennial borders and Cottage gardens!

Vital pollen and nectar resources for pollinators and beneficial insects, the Daisy is versatile, easy to grow, and there is a toughness hidden behind the lovely blooms!

Spreading into polite clumps, you can use Daisies in mass plantings and in large groupings or swaths of easy-breezy cheer!

Nature Hills Nursery Top 5 Daisy Plants

Shasta Daisies are the largest family of ornamental Daisy plants at Nature Hills! Between the Amazing Daisies® line of plants and the REALFLOR® line of Daisies, plus many other options, meaning there are so many pretty varieties for you to choose from! Check out these 5 fan-favorite Daisies at NatureHills.com!

5. Darling Daisy™ Shasta Daisy

Dwarf Daisies that only grow 6 inches tall and wide, the Darling Daisy™ Shasta is perfect as low-growing edging along the fronts of your garden borders, in container gardens, and works great as facer plants, or skirting around larger trees and shrubs. Darling Daisy™ just shines in the sun in groupings and as solo focal points that draw in the butterflies!

4. Alaska Shasta Daisy

The Alaska Shasta Daisy is a big 2-3 foot 3-foot-tall perennial with large blooms on long stems. Returning all summer with deadheading, the long fringy petals look great in bouquets and are huge landing pads for bees and butterflies! Big specimens and accents, Alaska Daisy is a fantastic back-of-the-border perennial in your beds and borders!

3. Amazing Daisies® Marshmallow Shasta Daisy

Ruffled and fluffy, double blooms, the Marshmallow Shasta Daisy by Proven Winners® is a unique and stand-out specimen plant! Forming showy clumps of long-stemmed, enormous, frilly white blooms atop deep green, spear-like foliage! Any sunny garden or container location will become a showy, fluffy, and sweet accent!

2. Goldfinch Shasta Daisy

A bright yellow double-petalled Goldfinch Daisy has gold centers that create a sunny, frilly, and cheerful specimen plant! The bright yellow petals age to pale cream. The strong stems and scalloped green leaves form 2-foot tall and wide clumps!

1. Becky Shasta Daisy

The traditional-looking garden standard, the Becky Daisy, has a shining and heavily

Forming on strong, straight stems that rise above mounds of toothy, lance-shaped leaves ranging from light to dark green, the blooms are must-haves for cut flower gardens! Filling your bouquets with loads of cheerful blooms all growing season long. A long-blooming variety, Becky is a fantastic old-fashioned with modern hardiness and a low-maintenance nature!

Honorable Mentions:

Whoops-A-Daisy Shasta Daisy - A new and improved dwarf Leucanthemum is so much more than the old standard Snowcap Daisy in many ways. Forming magnificent, dense, rounded ball-shaped mounds of dark green foliage, completely covered in large 3-4 inch white flowers with gold centers that are also fuller and fluffier.
REALFLOR® Real Galaxy Shasta Daisy - An incredibly lacy bloom that looks more like Daisy Fleabane than other Shasta Daisies! Their fine-textured super super-slimmer double row of petals looks so frilly! Starting as buttery yellow buds that open into pure white, each 4-inch bloom is highlighted by the bright golden centers like luxury lashes!

Easy Daisy Care!

If you have a location with full sun and well-drained soil, then the herbaceous perennial Daisy plants will reward you with years of blooms! Water Daisies during dry periods and use a slow-release fertilizer in early spring.

A 3-4 inch thick layer of mulch helps in especially drought-prone areas, and in colder climates, add a thick layer of mulch for protection. One thing Daisies despise is soggy soil, especially soil that stays wet in winter.

As soon as the flowers begin to fade, wilt, or turn brown, Daisies should be deadheaded to encourage vigorous growth and rebloom. This makes the Daisy boast a longer blooming period. Daisy clumps can be divided every few years to promote better growth and vigor.

Low-maintenance and easy to grow, that is all these plants need in the way of care. Do You

Love Daisies Or Love Them Not?

No petal plucking needed! We know you will love Daisies! Keep their petals on and instead feed bees and butterflies, fill your garden with cheer, and bring the cheer indoors with charming vase arrangements, all because of these cheerful, easy-to-grow blooms!

Check out all the cheerful harbingers of spring available at NatureHills.com and get growing Daisies in your landscape today!

Happy Planting!

Shop Nature Hills Daisies

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a daisy look like?

Daisies feature the classic white petals surrounding a bright orange-to-yellow center disk, making them one of the most recognizable flowers in gardens. The blooms are actually composed of two types of flowers: small disk florets in the center and white ray florets that form the distinctive petals. Plants form neat mounds of green, narrow foliage with toothed edges that complement the cheerful flowers. Look for Shasta Daisies if you want larger blooms on taller stems, or choose Common Daisies for smaller flowers that spread naturally through your garden beds.

What do daisies look like?

Daisies feature the classic white petals surrounding bright orange to yellow center disks, making them one of the most recognizable flowers. The plants form attractive mounds of green, tooth-edged foliage that's longer than it is wide with an almost succulent appearance. Shasta Daisies grow taller with larger centers, while Common Daisies stay more compact and spread naturally. Look for these cheerful blooms from late spring through summer in your garden beds or naturalized areas.

How many petals does a daisy have?

Daisies don't have a fixed number of petals since what appear to be "petals" are actually individual ray florets that surround the central disk. Common daisies typically have 15-30 white ray florets, while Shasta daisies can have 20-40 or more depending on the cultivar. The exact number varies by species and growing conditions, with double varieties having significantly more ray florets than single forms. When selecting daisies for your garden, focus on the overall flower size and form rather than petal count for the best visual impact.

Where do daisies grow?

Daisies are found naturally all over the world except Antarctica, making them incredibly adaptable to diverse climates and growing conditions. Most common daisy varieties like Shasta Daisies and Oxeye Daisies thrive in USDA zones 4-9, while English Daisies perform best in cooler zones 3-6. They grow exceptionally well in full sun locations with well-draining soil, though they'll tolerate partial shade and various soil types. Choose a sunny spot in your garden with good drainage for the most prolific blooms and healthiest plants.

What is a daisy?

A daisy is a cheerful flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, featuring distinctive white petals surrounding a yellow-orange center disk. The flower is actually composed of two types of florets: the outer white "ray" petals and the inner disk florets that form the colorful center. True daisies include Common Daisies (Bellis perennis), Oxeye Daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare), and Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum superbum), all forming low mounds of toothed foliage. Choose Shasta Daisies for larger blooms and height, or Common Daisies for ground-covering spreads in your garden beds.

What is a daisy flower?

A daisy flower is actually two flowers in one, consisting of an outer ring of white petal-like ray florets surrounding a center disk of tiny individual disk florets that create the characteristic orange-to-yellow center. True daisies belong to the Asteraceae family and include three main types: Common Daisies (Bellis perennis), Oxeye Daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare), and Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum superbum). These hardy perennials form mounds of green, tooth-edged foliage and are among the easiest flowers to grow. Choose Shasta Daisies for larger blooms and taller stems, or Common Daisies for compact spreading groundcover in your garden beds.

Where do daisies come from?

Daisies are found naturally all over the world except Antarctica, with the name originating from Old English 'Daes eage' meaning 'day's eye' because the flowers open at dawn each day. True daisies belong to the Asteraceae family, which includes three main types: Common Daisies (Bellis perennis), Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), and Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum superbum). These hardy perennials form mounds of green foliage with distinctive white petals surrounding orange-to-yellow centers. Choose Shasta Daisies for larger blooms and taller stems, or Common Daisies for ground-covering spreads in your garden.

Do daisies have leaves?

Yes, daisies have distinctive foliage that forms attractive mounds of green leaves. The leaves are longer than they are wide with characteristic toothy lobes along the edges, creating an almost succulent appearance. These basal leaf clumps provide excellent contrast to the bright white and yellow flowers throughout the growing season. Plant daisies in full sun to partial shade for the best foliage development and overall plant health.

Are daisies spring flowers?

Daisies are quintessential spring and summer flowers that typically bloom from late spring through early fall, with peak flowering occurring in May through July depending on your growing zone. These cheerful perennials emerge in early spring as temperatures warm and soil thaws, with most varieties beginning their bloom cycle 8-12 weeks after winter dormancy ends. In zones 4-9, you can expect daisy foliage to appear in March-April, followed by abundant flowers through the growing season. Plant daisies in early spring after the last frost date for best establishment and longest bloom period.

Are daisies easy to grow?

Yes, daisies are incredibly easy to grow and perfect for beginning gardeners or those with busy schedules. Both Common Daisies and Shasta Daisies thrive in most growing zones with minimal care requirements, tolerating various soil conditions and weather patterns. These hardy perennials form attractive mounds of green foliage and produce their cheerful white-petaled flowers reliably from spring through summer. Plant them in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil, and they'll reward you with years of low-maintenance blooms.

Everything You Need to Know About Daisies!

Table of Contents