Daisies are a popular flower with many names, including “flower of the sun,” “pink daisy,” “English daisy,” “oxeye daisy,” “white daisy,” and “oxeye daisy.” They also provide food for herbivorous and pollinating insects. In addition, they are often eaten by humans. However, daisies can be invasive species, and many varieties are difficult to control.
The daisy family contains 111 genera and over 2800 species. They come from a wide range of habitats, including open meadows, grasslands, and woodlands. Many species have medicinal uses. For example, the anthemideae, or marigold, contains an anti-inflammatory substance called calendula.
Common daisies have spoon-shaped leaves that form a rosette at the base of the plant. Their foliage is low to the ground and grows among short grasses. The flower head is carried by one stem, which is covered with numerous small flowers. The disc florets are yellow, with long strap-like petals, and the ray florets are white, with tubular corollas.
Another common daisy is the gaillardia daisy, also known as the blanket flower. Its yellow-red flowers are reminiscent of the sunset, and their petals spread out in multilayered rings. They can be grown in garden beds or containers.