You probably think you know what a daisy looks like. White petals, yellow center, looks like something a toddler would draw with a crayon. Simple, right? Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. When people talk about types of daisy plants, they are usually diving headfirst into the Asteraceae family, which is absolutely massive. We are talking about over 32,000 species. It’s the largest family of flowering plants on the planet, tied only with orchids.
Daisies are everywhere. They grow on every continent except Antarctica. But here is the kicker: what you call a "daisy" might actually be a sunflower, a ragweed, or a zinnia in disguise. The word "daisy" actually comes from the Old English phrase "daes eag," meaning "day’s eye." It’s a reference to how the flower head closes at night and opens in the morning. Kinda poetic for a weed, isn't it?
The Classic Oxeye and the Identity Crisis
If you see a daisy growing wild in a meadow or along a highway in North America, it’s almost certainly the Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). It is the quintessential white-and-yellow flower. But don't let its charm fool you. In many parts of the US, like Washington and Ohio, it’s actually classified as a noxious weed. It’s aggressive. It spreads through rhizomes and can take over a cattle pasture faster than you can pull them up.
Farmers actually hate them because cows won't eat them. If a cow accidentally grazes on too many Oxeyes, their milk starts to taste... funky. Not exactly what you want in your morning cereal.
Then you have the Shasta Daisy. This is the one you actually want in your garden. It was developed by Luther Burbank in the late 1800s. He spent 15 years crossing the Oxeye with several other species to create a flower that was whiter, bigger, and sturdier. It’s a hybrid. It’s basically the "designer" version of the wild weed. While the Oxeye is spindly and a bit chaotic, the Shasta stands tall and behaves itself in a flower bed.
Why the Petals Aren't Actually Petals
Here is a bit of botanical trivia that usually melts people's brains: a daisy is not one flower. It’s a collection of hundreds of tiny flowers living together on one head. Those white "petals" on the outside? Those are called ray florets. They are individual sterile flowers. That yellow "button" in the middle? Those are disk florets. Each one of those tiny yellow dots is a fertile flower capable of producing a seed.
The Bold Colors of African Daisies
If you want something that isn't just plain white, you’re looking at Osteospermum, commonly known as the African Daisy. These things are flashy. We’re talking purples, bronzes, and oranges that look like they were painted on. They aren't as hardy as the Shastas. If you live in a cold climate, these are annuals. They’ll die the moment the first frost hits the ground.
One weird thing about African Daisies? They are moody. If it’s cloudy, they might stay closed all day. They need direct sunlight to show off. Gardeners often get frustrated because they plant them in a spot that gets afternoon shade, and the flowers basically go on strike.
Gerbera Daisies: The Florist’s Favorite
You’ve seen these in every bouquet at the grocery store. Gerbera jamesonii. They are the fifth most used cut flower in the world. Why? Because they come in neon colors and have thick, sturdy stems. But honestly, they are a pain to grow at home. They are prone to crown rot. If you plant them even a quarter-inch too deep, they’ll turn into mush within a month. They also attract spider mites like a magnet.
If you’re going to try growing Gerberas, do it in a pot. You need total control over the drainage. Most experts at the Chicago Botanic Garden suggest keeping them in a soil-less potting mix specifically to avoid the fungal issues that plague them in traditional garden soil.
The Medicinal Power of Echinacea
Wait, is a Coneflower a daisy? Botanically, yes. Echinacea purpurea is a staple in the types of daisy plants discussion because of its unique structure. The center (the disk florets) is spiky and raised, hence the name "coneflower."
Most people know Echinacea from the supplement aisle. Native American tribes, particularly the Plains Indians, used it for centuries to treat snakebites and respiratory infections. Modern science is still debating how effective it actually is for the common cold—some studies show a slight reduction in duration, others show nothing—but in the garden, they are iron-clad. They are drought-tolerant and attract every butterfly in the zip code.
The English Daisy: Small but Mighty
Bellis perennis. This is the "true" daisy from a historical perspective. It’s the one mentioned in Chaucer and Shakespeare. It’s tiny. It hugs the ground. In many lawns, it’s considered a weed, much like dandelions. But in a cottage garden, it’s charming.
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The English Daisy is a biennial. It grows leaves the first year and flowers the second. It’s also edible. You can toss the petals into a salad, though honestly, they don't taste like much. A bit nutty, maybe slightly bitter. They are mostly there for the aesthetic.
Blue Daisies and the Rare Finds
You don't see blue in the daisy world very often. Most are yellow, white, or pink. But the Kingfisher Daisy (Felicia amelloides) is a true blue. It’s a shrubby plant from South Africa. It’s not something you’ll find at a big-box hardware store usually; you have to seek it out at specialty nurseries. It loves heat. It loves sand. If you have "perfect" garden soil that stays moist, you’ll kill it. It needs to struggle a little bit to look its best.
The Misunderstood Painted Daisy
Tanacetum coccineum. These are often confused with mums. They have fern-like foliage and bright, daisy-like flowers in shades of red and pink. The interesting thing here is that they contain pyrethrum. This is a natural insecticide. If you dry the flower heads and grind them up, you have a potent organic bug spray. It’s actually one of the reasons they are so easy to grow—most pests take one look at a Painted Daisy and decide to eat something else.
The Secret to Keeping Daisies Alive
Most people fail with daisies because they treat them all the same. They aren't. A Shasta Daisy needs constant moisture and rich soil. A Desert Star (Monoptilon bellioides) wants to be bone-dry in the Mojave desert.
The biggest mistake? Not deadheading. If you don't cut off the old, dying flowers, the plant thinks its job is done. It has made its seeds. It’s ready to check out for the season. If you snip those spent blooms, you trick the plant into thinking it failed to reproduce, so it pumps out more flowers. You can sometimes double your bloom time just by being aggressive with your garden shears.
Dealing with Powdery Mildew
If you grow daisies, you will eventually see a white, dusty coating on the leaves. That’s powdery mildew. It won't usually kill the plant, but it looks terrible. It’s a fungus that thrives in humid conditions with poor airflow.
Pro tip: don't water your daisies from above. Use a soaker hose or aim the watering can at the base of the plant. If the leaves stay dry, the fungus has a much harder time taking hold. Also, don't pack your plants too close together. They need to breathe.
Moving Forward with Your Garden
If you’re looking to add some of these to your yard, start by checking your USDA Hardiness Zone. Shastas are great for zones 4-9. African daisies are basically restricted to zone 9 and above unless you treat them as annuals.
Don't just buy "daisy seeds" from a generic packet. Look for the Latin name. If it says Leucanthemum, you’re getting the classic white. If it says Symphyotrichum, you’re actually buying asters, which look like daisies but bloom in the fall.
- Test your soil pH. Most daisies prefer a neutral range around 6.0 to 7.0.
- Choose your site based on sun. Almost all types of daisy plants require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Without it, they get "leggy"—the stems grow long and weak as they reach for the light, and they’ll eventually flop over.
- Divide your perennials. Every three years, dig up your Shasta or Oxeye clumps and chop them in half with a spade. Replant the pieces. This rejuvenates the plant and gives you free flowers for other parts of your yard.
Daisies might be common, but they are far from boring. Whether you want the medicinal benefits of Echinacea or the neon pop of a Gerbera, there is a version of this "simple" flower that fits exactly what you need. Just make sure you know which one you’re actually putting in the ground before you start digging.
Next Steps for Your Garden:
- Identify the specific light levels in your yard before purchasing; "partial shade" will kill most Gerberas but might be okay for some wild English varieties.
- Order seeds from a reputable nursery like Burpee or Johnny’s Selected Seeds to ensure you aren't accidentally planting an invasive Oxeye strain.
- Prepare a well-draining garden bed with compost to give hybrid Shastas the nutrient boost they need for their first spring bloom.