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Bellis perennis

life science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

The common daisy is a small, hardy plant. It belongs to the Asteraceae family. Many people call it the lawn daisy or English daisy.

Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens
Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens

This plant is very special to Europe. It is the main plant people think of when they hear the name daisy. It can grow in many places around the world. You can find it in the Americas and Australasia too. It loves to live in fields and grassy areas.

This plant has a very neat way of working. It grows low to the ground with small, round leaves. The flowers show something called heliotropism. This means the flower heads follow the sun across the sky.

Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens
Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens

Each flower head is actually a group of many tiny flowers. There are white ray florets on the outside. Some of these have red tips. In the middle, there are yellow disc florets. Two rows of green bracts, called phyllaries, surround the center.

People have given this plant many different names over time. In Latin, the name Bellis perennis means "pretty everlasting."

Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens
Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens

Some people call it "day's eye." This is because the flower head opens in the morning and closes at night. The writer Geoffrey Chaucer called it the "eye of the day." In the Middle Ages, people called it "Mary's Rose." It was also known as bruisewort or bone flower.

There are many facts about how daisies grow. They usually bloom from March to September.

Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens
Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens

If the weather is mild, they might even flower in winter. They grow best when the temperature stays above 0 degrees Celsius. You can grow them in full sun or partial shade. They do not need much help to stay healthy. They can grow in most soils that drain water well. You can plant them from seeds or by dividing them.

Humans use daisies in many fun and useful ways. Children often use them to make long daisy chains.

Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens
Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens

You can even eat the young leaves in a salad. The flower petals are good in soups or sandwiches. Some people use them to make tea or vitamin supplements. The daisy is also the national flower of the Netherlands. It is even used as a girl's name. It can be a nickname for people named Margaret.

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File:Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens.jpg
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