Daisy
Daisy is a common name for several flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, especially species with composite flower heads made of ray florets around a central disk.
Daisy is a common name for several flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, especially those with composite flower heads made of ray florets around a central disk.
What it is
Daisy is not a single botanical species but an umbrella common name. It most often refers to the common daisy (*Bellis perennis*), oxeye daisy (*Leucanthemum vulgare*), or Shasta daisy (*Leucanthemum* × *superbum*). All belong to the sunflower family Asteraceae.
Key details
What looks like one daisy flower is actually a cluster of many tiny flowers. The central disk consists of disk florets, while the outer petal-like parts are ray florets. Daisies vary widely in size, colour, and growth habit—annual, biennial, or perennial—depending on the species.
Why it matters
Daisies are familiar ornamental and wild plants in Canadian gardens, meadows, and roadside habitats. Cultivated Shasta daisies and naturalized species such as oxeye daisy are common across the country.
In short
- Daisy is a common name, not a single species.
- Classic daisy flowers have a composite head of disk and ray florets.
- Common species include Bellis perennis, oxeye daisy, and Shasta daisy.
- Daisies are widespread in Canadian gardens and wild areas.
Daisies are familiar ornamental and wild plants in Canadian gardens, meadows, and roadside habitats, especially cultivated Shasta daisies and naturalized species such as oxeye daisy.
Quick questions
What is a daisy?
Is a daisy one species?
What family do daisies belong to?
Sources
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/daisySupports: Definition of daisy as several species in Asteraceae; common species and flower-head structure.
- Chicago Botanic Garden — https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/plant-profiles/daisiesSupports: Many genera and species use the common name daisy; variation in flower colour and form.
- Gardenia.net — https://www.gardenia.net/guide/types-of-daisies-you-should-growSupports: Examples of daisy types and broad family placement in Asteraceae.
- Royal Horticultural Society — https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/94326/bellis-perennis/detailsSupports: Bellis perennis as daisy; perennial habit and floral description.