Bellis perennis aka Daisy

Bellis perennis is the common daisy, or English daisy. It belongs to the aster family, Asteraceae. Its native range includes Madeira and Europe. It also includes the Mediterranean and Central Asia. The plant is native to Britain and Ireland. It grows in lawns, meadows, and other grassy places. People grow it beyond its native range too. This small perennial lives for more than one year. In gardens with hot summers, it can serve as an annual.

Plants form low mats from rosettes, or clusters of leaves. They spread through rhizomes, which are stems below ground. Garden plants reach about 0.25–0.5 feet [0.08–0.15 metres] tall. Their spread ranges from 0.25–0.75 feet [0.08–0.23 metres]. RHS gives a smaller maximum for both height and spread. That is about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres]. Dark green leaves look like spoons and have toothed edges. They cluster at the base, not along the stems. Fine hairs may cover the leaves and green flower stems. They may also cover the bracts, or leaves near flowers. The plant keeps all or some leaves year-round.

Each flower stem holds a daisy head with a yellow centre. The white rays may have a pink tint. The main bloom season runs from May to July. Some plants bloom again from time to time until frost. Bees, butterflies, and other insects visit the blooms for nectar. The small fruit is an achene, a dry, one-seed fruit. Plants grow slowly at first, then grow fast. They can spread into lawns. In cool summers, patches that have taken hold resist removal.

Grow this daisy in sun or partial shade. Give it afternoon shade where days grow warm. It prefers cool, moist, rich soil that drains well. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk at varied pH levels. Summer heat weakens it, and drought does not suit it. Sources give USDA zones 4–8 and UK rating H7. It needs little care and no routine pruning. Remove dead flower heads to curb its spread by seed. Use seed or divide plants once they finish blooming. It suits border edges, rock gardens, meadows, and ground cover. Grow it in pots, window boxes, or spring bulb plantings too.

Serious pest and disease problems are rare, but rust can occur. Root-knot nematodes may cause trouble, as may European pepper moth. Reports describe food uses for small amounts of young leaves and flowers. Flowers taste a little bitter. Sources disagree on how the leaves taste. Safety reports conflict too: PFAF lists no known hazards. NC State warns that the plant can irritate skin. It also warns of illness after eating it. Reported symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and lethargy. NC State advises against daisy products during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Traditional remedies use the flower heads. These reports do not show that such use is safe.