Go crazy for Daisies

With so many colours and shapes, and options to suit most garden situations, it’s little wonder few can resist the simple charms of these fabulous flowers, says Graham Rice

- Graham Rice

MAYBE it’s because the shape sort of resembles a face. Or because it’s the one flower we can all draw. Whatever the reason, there’s something about that classic daisy shape that connects with us, stays with us, and has eternal appeal.

I can still remember making daisy chains as a child – all those years ago – and I’m sure I’m not alone. I also remember the clump of Shasta daisies my mum grew in the border, which was always threatening to collapse onto the lavender in front.

There are few people who can resist the innocent appeal of a daisy. The problem is that the differences between the various types are often too tiny to discern with the naked eye, so sorting out which is which can be difficult.

In fact, with many daisies, what we call a ‘flower’ is actually a multitude of tiny individual flowers. The colourful parts around the edge are called rays, and the mass of flowers in the centre make up the disk. Double blooms arise when the flowers in the disk turn into rays.

While many daisies appear very similar, the family to which they belong is, in fact, huge, with approaching 26,000 species, including lots that look nothing like we imagine a daisy to look. Trees, climbers and succulents all feature, as well as annuals and perennials. They grow everywhere, from mountains and deserts to woodland and swamps – which means there are daisies suitable for most garden situations.

Unlikely relatives

Some of our most familiar wildflowers are in the daisy family – including thistles, which are unlikely members of the clan. Relatives also include some of our most popular garden annuals, biennials and perennials – among them dahlias, tagetes and zinnias.