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Bairnwort Bellis perennis

Previously known as:

  • Aster bellis
  • Bellis hortensis
  • Bellis pumila
Phonetic Spelling
BEL-iss per-EN-niss
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Grown as a tender biennial, English Daisy is a herbaceous perennial and has rhizomes (however, people in the northern United States grow this plant as annual).

This plant likes sun with afternoon shade, prefers cool temperatures, as well as cool, moist, fertile soil. English Daisy often escapes from the flower garden into lawns, where it is considered a weed. This plant declines with summer heat and is not drought tolerant. This plant's seasons are spring to early summer with sporadic flowering till frost. This plant may be challenging to stop growing if grown in an ideal location. English Daisy likes heavy fertility. This plant reaches a mature height in a maximum of 5 years but can be as short of a time as 2 years. English Daisy is slow to start but then grows rapidly and can become weedy.

Fun Fact: Deriving from Latin roots, bellis means "pretty." 

Propagation: seed or division in spring; plant in fall

Insect, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No major insect and disease problems. One pest is the European pepper moth whose host plant is the English Daisy (among other plants). This plant may have some problems with root-knot nematodes (galls) and rust.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Backyard Patio
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#low maintenance#dappled sunlight#daisy-like#playground plant#double flowers#semi-double flowers#groundcover#cool weather plant#rock garden#border planting#cutting garden#spring interest#pollinator plant#flowers early summer#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#perennial#annual#wildflower
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#low maintenance#dappled sunlight#daisy-like#playground plant#double flowers#semi-double flowers#groundcover#cool weather plant#rock garden#border planting#cutting garden#spring interest#pollinator plant#flowers early summer#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#perennial#annual#wildflower
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Bellis
    Species:
    perennis
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Homeopathic medicines (vitamin supplement and tea) sometimes include this plant.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe
    Distribution:
    United States (in TN, NC, VA, KY, WV, IL, IN, OH, PA, NY, CT, MA, VT, NH, ME, CA, UT, ID, OR, WA, MT, ND, MN, WI, MI, AK, RI); Canda (in British Columbia, Ontario, Québec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick); Asia; Europe; Pacific Islands (Hawaii and New Zealand)
    Wildlife Value:
    Butterflies and other pollinators are attracted to blooms as this plant is a nectar source.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Textural
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    insects, diseases, deer
    Edibility:
    Flowers have a mildly bitter flavor and like young leaves can be eaten in small quantities raw in salads and sandwiches or cooked in tea and soups. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is an achene.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    more than 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The plant blooms around May through July (spring/summer). The flowers have white, pink, or red rays with a yellow center and are up to 2 inches across. It can be semi-double to double.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are 3-6 inches. However, this plant also has 1-2 inch, dark green leaves that are rosette. Leaves may look spoon-shaped. Hairs may be present underneath the leaf, on the rosette leaves, and on bracts. Leaves are lobed or unlobed, have teeth, and are cuneate or truncate at the base. This plant does not have leaves on the stem: only leaves near the base.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are up to 6 inches tall but as short as 3 inches tall.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Recreational Play Area
    Small Space
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Insect Pests
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Poisonous to Humans
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    If this plant is eaten, then constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy may occur. If this plant is ingested, it may even make you feel more hungry. Products with English Daisy should not be taken while pregnant or breast-feeding as not enough research has been done.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    saponins, oxalates, and tannins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems