True Daisy Bellis perennis
Other Common Name(s):
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
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an achene.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
