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Bellis spp.

daisies

Asteraceae

Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Bellis spp. is a genus of about 8 to 10 low-growing annual and perennial herbs in the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. Plants form flat rosettes of small, spoon-shaped leaves 0.5-2 in (1.3-5 cm) long, from which rise leafless stalks 2-8 in (5-20 cm) tall, each carrying a single daisy flower head. The heads are 0.5-1.5 in (1.3-4 cm) across, with white ray florets, often flushed pink or red, surrounding a yellow disk; garden forms include fully double and pompon types in deeper pinks and reds. B. perennis, the common or English daisy, grows in lawns and grassland across Europe and has naturalized worldwide, flowering for much of the year in mild climates. The plants close their flowers at night and in dull weather. The genus favors cool, moist conditions and fades in summer heat. Common daisy is often treated as a lawn weed because it spreads by seed and short rhizomes and resists mowing.

Native Range

Bellis spp. is native to Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and North Africa, growing in meadows, lawns, grassy slopes, and open woodland. B. perennis, the common daisy, has spread far beyond this range and is now naturalized across much of the temperate world. The genus is most at home in cool, moist, temperate grassland.

Suggested Uses

Planted in spring bedding, edging, containers, rock gardens, and short flowering lawns, where the low rosettes and bright daisies suit cool-season displays. The flowers draw early bees and other pollinators. Spaced 6-9 in (15-23 cm) apart in cool, moist sites.

How to Identify

Recognize Bellis spp. by flat rosettes of small spoon-shaped leaves and single daisy heads, each on its own leafless stalk, with white-to-pink rays around a yellow center. The leaves are softly hairy and slightly toothed, and the flower heads close at night. The single head per stalk and ground-hugging rosette separate it from branched daisies and asters.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 8"

Width/Spread4" - 9"

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Bellis spp. flowers over a long cool season, mainly from early spring into early summer, and again in autumn where summers are mild. In frost-free regions B. perennis can flower nearly year-round. Each head lasts about a week, opening in sun and closing at night and in dull weather.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White, pink, or red with a yellow center

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Bellis spp. grows in full sun to part shade in moist, fertile, well-drained soil at a soil pH from about 6.0 to 7.5 and grows strongly in cool conditions. Plants flower freely in spring but slow and may die back in hot, dry summers, returning when temperatures fall. Perennial species are hardy across USDA zones 4-8 and are often grown as cool-season bedding or biennials. Few pests affect the genus, though aphids and powdery mildew appear in crowded plantings. The common daisy self-seeds and spreads in lawns, which some gardeners welcome and others manage as a weed.

Pruning

Faded flower heads are removed to prolong bloom and limit self-seeding. Plants are sheared after the main spring flush to tidy the rosette. Clumps are lifted and divided every year or two to keep them vigorous.