Daisies are among the most recognizable flowers in the garden, but the name “daisy” applies to a surprisingly diverse group of plants. Most belong to the sunflower family (Asteraceae), although they may come from different genera and vary considerably in size, color, growth habit, climate tolerance, and growing requirements.

From the familiar English daisy (Bellis perennis) and white-flowered Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum) to blue marguerite (Felicia amelloides) and drought-adapted desert species, there are daisy-like flowers suited to many different garden settings.

In this guide, you’ll discover 12 distinctive daisy varieties, including their botanical names, flower colors, growing conditions, and best garden uses. You’ll also learn how to choose varieties suited to your climate and growing conditions.

Flower Lovers Want to Know

Are all daisies the same type of flower?

No. Most plants commonly called daisies belong to the sunflower family (Asteraceae), but they come from many different genera and species. English daisies, Shasta daisies, blue marguerites, and Dahlberg daisies, for example, are botanically distinct plants with different growing requirements.

Are daisies annuals or perennials?

It depends on the species and climate. Some daisies are hardy perennials that return for many years, while others are annuals, biennials, or tender perennials commonly grown as annuals in colder climates. Always check the requirements of the particular species rather than relying on the common name “daisy.”

Do daisies need full sun?

Many popular daisies flower best in full sun, generally receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. However, light requirements vary by species, and some daisies tolerate partial shade. Climate can also affect how much sun a particular plant handles well.

Which daisies attract pollinators?

Many daisy-family plants attract bees, butterflies, and other insects because their flower heads contain numerous small florets that can provide pollen or nectar. Pollinator value varies among species and cultivars, and open, single-flowered forms often provide easier access to the central disc florets than densely doubled flowers.

Can you eat daisies?

Some plants commonly called daisies have edible parts, but this does not mean all daisies are safe to eat. Crown daisy (Glebionis coronaria), for example, is cultivated as a leafy vegetable in several cuisines. Only consume a plant that has been positively identified as an edible species and has not been treated with products unsuitable for food crops.

12 Beautiful Daisy Varieties: Colors, Growing Conditions & Garden Uses

The 12 daisies below include familiar garden favorites alongside less common wildflowers and species adapted to specialized growing conditions.

1. English Daisy (Bellis perennis)

English daisy is a compact herbaceous perennial known for its low rosettes of green leaves and small flower heads with yellow centers. The species typically produces white ray florets, while cultivated forms are also available in shades of pink and red.

These cool-season plants perform best in moist, well-drained soil and can grow in full sun or partial shade. They tend to decline during hot summer weather and are not particularly drought tolerant. Depending on the climate and how they are used in the garden, English daisies may be grown as perennials, biennials, or annuals.

Their compact growth makes them especially useful along borders, in containers, and in small garden spaces. English daisies can also spread into lawns and naturalize where conditions suit them.

Best for: Edging, containers, cottage gardens and small spaces.

2. Cape Daisy (Dimorphotheca ecklonis)

Cape daisy is a South African member of the daisy family native to the Cape Provinces. Many gardeners may recognize it under the botanical name Osteospermum ecklonis, but Kew currently treats that name as a synonym of Dimorphotheca ecklonis.

Unlike annual African daisies, this species naturally grows as a subshrub or shrub. Garden cultivars are valued for their colorful daisy-like flower heads and are commonly used in sunny borders and containers.

Cape daisies perform best in full sun and well-drained soil. In climates with cold winters, they are commonly treated as seasonal plants rather than permanent garden shrubs.

Best for: Sunny borders, containers and mass plantings.

3. Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)

Gloriosa daisy is a cultivated form or selection of Rudbeckia hirta, the familiar black-eyed Susan. The species is native to the eastern United States and is a biennial or short-lived perennial, although plants started early from seed can flower during their first growing season.

Flowers typically feature yellow, orange, bronze, or reddish ray florets surrounding a prominent dark center. Depending on the selection, plants can reach approximately 2 to 4 feet tall.

Grow gloriosa daisies in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Once established, Rudbeckia hirta has some drought tolerance and provides nectar and pollen for visiting insects. Its long stems and colorful flowers also make it useful in cutting gardens.

Best for: Pollinator gardens, borders, native gardens and cut flowers.

4. Blue Marguerite (Felicia amelloides)

Blue marguerite stands apart from many familiar daisies because of its sky-blue ray florets surrounding bright yellow centers. Native to South Africa, Felicia amelloides is a perennial that can develop into a small, densely branched plant.

It is perennial in frost-free climates but is commonly grown as an annual where winters are cold. Plants generally reach about 1 to 2 feet tall and produce their showy flowers during summer, although flowering can slow during periods of intense summer heat.

Blue marguerite grows best in full sun and consistently moist but well-drained soil. Its compact habit makes it suitable for containers, borders, hanging baskets, and planting alongside walkways.

Best for: Containers, borders, walkways and butterfly gardens.

5. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum)

Shasta daisy is a perennial garden hybrid rather than a naturally occurring daisy species. It was developed by plant breeder Luther Burbank and combines several Leucanthemum species.

Its classic flower heads feature white ray florets surrounding bright yellow centers. Cultivars range from compact plants to varieties reaching several feet tall, and both single- and double-flowered forms are available.

Shasta daisies grow best in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Established plants have some drought tolerance, but poorly drained or persistently wet winter soil can cause problems. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects and are also suitable for cutting.

Best for: Perennial borders, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens and cut flowers.

6. Namaqualand Daisy (Dimorphotheca sinuata)

Namaqualand daisy is a colorful annual native from Namibia into the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Unlike the shrubby Dimorphotheca ecklonis, this species completes its natural life cycle as an annual.

The species produces showy flower heads with yellow to orange coloring, although cultivated selections have expanded the available range of colors. Plants typically develop a branching habit and produce their flowers on stems held above the foliage.

Because it is naturally adapted to the seasonal conditions of southern Africa, Namaqualand daisy is a useful choice for sunny displays and mass plantings. It can also be grown in containers where its bright flowers can be viewed up close.

Best for: Annual beds, sunny borders, containers and mass plantings.

7. Crown Daisy (Glebionis coronaria)

Crown daisy, also called garland chrysanthemum or chrysanthemum greens, combines ornamental value with a long history as a cultivated vegetable. It is an upright annual with deeply divided foliage and yellow or yellow-and-white daisy-like flower heads.

Plants can reach approximately 1½ to 3 feet tall and grow best in full sun with moist but well-drained soil. Crown daisy works well in vegetable plots, herb gardens, mixed borders, and informal cottage-style plantings.

Its edible leaves and young stems are used as vegetables in several Asian cuisines. Plants intended for eating should be positively identified as Glebionis coronaria and grown without pesticides or other treatments unsuitable for edible crops.

Best for: Edible gardens, herb gardens, sunny borders and cottage gardens.

Edible Daisy Safety

Some plants commonly called daisies have edible parts, but the common name “daisy” does not indicate that a plant is safe to eat. Only consume flowers, leaves, or stems from a species that has been positively identified as edible, preferably by its botanical name.

Plants intended for eating should also be grown without pesticides or other treatments not labeled for use on edible crops. Never assume that an ornamental daisy is edible simply because a related species is used as food.

8. Indian Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum)

Indian chrysanthemum is a perennial member of the daisy family native across a broad region extending from the Himalayas into China and northern Indo-China, as well as Korea and Japan.

The wild species is best known for its relatively small yellow flower heads. Like other members of Chrysanthemum, it produces the familiar composite flower structure characteristic of the Asteraceae, with numerous small florets grouped together into what appears to be a single flower.

Its perennial growth habit distinguishes it from annual daisies such as crown daisy and Namaqualand daisy. It is most appropriate for gardeners interested in traditional chrysanthemum species rather than the large-flowered ornamental hybrids commonly sold as garden mums.

Best for: Perennial collections, informal borders and chrysanthemum collections.

9. Desert Star (Monoptilon bellioides)

Desert star is dramatically different from the larger daisies commonly grown in flower borders. Monoptilon bellioides is a tiny winter annual native to desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

Plants grow close to the ground and produce small daisy-like flower heads with white ray florets, sometimes tinged pinkish-purple, surrounding yellow disc florets. They occur naturally in sandy or rocky soils on desert flats, dunes, washes, and similar habitats.

Desert star’s growth is closely tied to desert rainfall. Rather than treating it like a conventional bedding daisy, it is best appreciated as a specialized native wildflower adapted to arid ecosystems.

Best for: Desert wildflower gardens and native-plant collections where climate and conditions are suitable.

11. Dahlberg Daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba)

Dahlberg daisy is a small, finely textured plant covered with cheerful yellow daisy-like flowers. Although it is a tender perennial, it is widely grown as a warm-season annual in regions where it cannot survive winter.

Its compact, spreading habit makes it particularly useful near the front of borders, along pathways, in rock gardens, and in containers. The finely divided foliage also provides an attractive contrast to plants with broader leaves.

Dahlberg daisy is drought tolerant once established, making it well suited to sunny gardens with well-drained soil. Watering frequency should still be adjusted according to rainfall, soil, temperature, and whether plants are growing in containers or in the ground rather than following a fixed weekly schedule.

Best for: Edging, containers, rock gardens and sunny dry borders.

12. Swan River Daisy (Brachyscome iberidifolia)

Swan River daisy is an Australian annual valued for its masses of small daisy-like flowers and soft, finely divided foliage. Flowers occur in shades of blue, violet, mauve, purple, and white, usually surrounding contrasting disc florets.

Its compact growth makes it particularly useful in containers and along the front of flower beds, where the smaller blooms can be appreciated. Plants are generally grown for seasonal color rather than as long-lived garden perennials.

Swan River daisy also gives this collection a distinctly different growth form and geographic origin from the larger Shasta, gloriosa, and South African daisies featured above.

Best for: Containers, edging, hanging baskets and the front of sunny borders.

How to Choose the Right Daisy for Your Garden

Because the name “daisy” applies to plants from several genera and species, growing requirements can vary considerably. Before choosing a variety, consider your climate, available sunlight, soil conditions, and how you want to use the plant.

Consider Your Climate

Start by determining whether a daisy is an annual, hardy perennial, or tender perennial in your climate. Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum) are grown as hardy garden perennials in suitable regions, while tender plants such as blue marguerite (Felicia amelloides) are often grown as annuals where winters are cold.

Desert species require a different approach. Desert star (Monoptilon bellioides), for example, is a small annual adapted to arid environments rather than the conditions of a typical perennial flower border.

Match the Plant to Your Sunlight

Many of the daisies in this guide perform best in full sun, but sunlight requirements are not identical for every species. English daisies (Bellis perennis) and Shasta daisies can tolerate some partial shade, while several warm-climate and dryland species are better suited to sunny locations.

Check the requirements of the individual species rather than assuming every daisy needs exactly the same amount of sunlight.

Pay Attention to Soil and Moisture

Good drainage is important for many garden daisies, but their moisture requirements differ. Blue marguerite prefers more consistent moisture than drought-tolerant plants such as Dahlberg daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba).

Likewise, improving garden soil with organic matter can benefit some border plants, but it may not be appropriate for species naturally adapted to lean, sandy, rocky, or desert soils.

Choose Daisies for Their Garden Role

Consider where the plant will grow as well as how its flowers look. Compact varieties such as English daisy and Dahlberg daisy work well near the front of beds or in containers, while taller plants such as gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) can add height to borders and pollinator plantings.

For edible gardens, crown daisy (Glebionis coronaria) offers both ornamental and culinary value. Native and dryland species such as desert star and silver Townsend daisy are better suited to specialized plantings that reflect their natural growing conditions.

Final Sprouts of Wisdom

Daisies offer far more variety than their familiar flower shape might suggest, with choices for borders, containers, pollinator plantings, edible gardens, and dry landscapes.

The key is to choose a species suited to your climate, sunlight, soil, moisture, and available space rather than assuming every daisy has the same needs.

Once you’ve narrowed down your favorites, compare their growing requirements with the conditions in your garden and choose the varieties that are the best match. If you’re planning a garden with wildlife in mind, explore more flowers that attract hummingbirds and plants for a butterfly garden.

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