(Credit: Pixabay)

The common name daisy is derived from the Old English term "dægesege," which translates to "day's eye," or "eye of the day." The name suggests the flower looks like the sun with its rays shining out in all directions. The rays in those species considered to be true daisies are white ray florets surrounding a center consisting of golden disc florets. Today, daisy most often refers to a flower in any of a large group of flowering plants in the Asteraceae (aster) plant family, characterized by a central tuft of disc florets surrounded by petal-like ray florets.

The flower of a daisy is known botanically as a capitatum and consists of rings of ray florets surrounding a center tuft of disc florets. (Credit: Pixabay)

Anyone who has driven through the country in late June or July has probably noticed an abundance of white daisies along roadsides and in fields. This plant commonly is called ox-eye or field daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). It sometimes is used in flower gardens and is one of the easiest to grow of all perennial flowers.

Although individual plants live only a few years, ox-eye daisy reseeds itself readily, thereby producing a succession of young plants that flower the year following seed germination. Because ox-eye daisy reseeds so easily, some consider it to be a weed in the flower bed. However, it is no more difficult to control than other plants that we characterize as weeds.

One of the most colorful of the perennial daisies is painted daisy (Tanacetum coccineum). Also known as pyrethrum, the leaves of this plant are fern-like and quite attractive. It flowers later in the spring than ox-eye daisy and produces flowers in shades of red, rose, pink and white. While ox-eye daisy will tolerate dry to most soils, painted daisy must have soil with excellent drainage in order to thrive.

Painted daisy is one of the most colorful daisies available to gardeners. (Credit: Pixabay)

Although painted daisy plants are low growing, the flower stems may grow up to 24 inches in height. Double-flowered cultivars are available in addition to the more popular single-flowered types. While it is often reported that this plant is the source of the organic insecticide pyrethrum, the chemical actually is extracted from another plant called the Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium). The latter has silvery foliage and normally is not available for ornamental use.

Gardeners familiar with the name Luther Burbank know that, in addition to being active in improving many plants, he particularly was interested in the daisy. His interest led to the development of large-flowered types called Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum). These daisies are available with either single or double flowers that range from two to six inches in diameter. In addition to the original white Shasta daisy, golden yellow cultivars are now available. Shasta daisy's primary flower production occurs in June, although scattered blooms may be expected the remainder of the summer and into fall, with good care.

Shasta daisy was developed by renowned "plant wizard" Luther Burbank and is an excellent selection for perennial gardens. (Credit: Pixabay)

The season of daisies blooming in the garden can be extended by adding other daisies which may or may not be closely related. Among them is the low-growing English daisy (Bellis spp.), a cool-season plant that makes a good companion to pansies in early spring. The Gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) provides the daisy flower form in mid to late summer in shades of yellow and bronze. The Michaelmas daisy or perennial aster (Aster spp.) may be used for late fall color along with chrysanthemums. Even among the chrysanthemums, there are daisy-flowered cultivars.

English daisy is a cool-season flower that provides early color in the garden. (Credit: Pixabay)

Gloriosa daisy provides the daisy flower form in colors of yellow, deep gold, bronze and brown. (Credit: Pixabay)

All daisies need a sunny location along with good garden soil. Their greatest enemy is poorly drained soil. Crown rots are a problem, particularly when drainage is poor. Shasta and painted daisies may be weakened by poorly drained soil, making them more subject to winter kill. A light mulch around these plants always is beneficial.