Daisy – April birth flower

The birth flower for the month of April is the Daisy, and when it comes to picking out a daisy there are plenty of options.  Knowing the botanical name (genus and species) will tell you if it’s an annual or perennial.  Their botanical names are all very different. 

Here are a few daisies you may find in garden centers.

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum xsuperburn).  This is a perennial daisy.  It likes average to dry well draining soil.  Likes full sun and tolerates drought very well.   What it doesn’t like is wet soils, especially wet winter soils.  These perennials have a long bloom time but can be short lived plants.  To encourage more blooms deadhead flowers and divide plants every 3 years. Many cultivars are available and they bloom at different times.  Common colors are whites and yellows.  Some gardeners I know can grow daises without any animal damage, others report that rabbits and/or deer will nibble on it. 

Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens).   This is an annual daisy. It blooms late spring through fall.   They are available in shades of white, cream, yellow, and pink.   Blooming can slow down in hot summers.   Deadhead the flowers to encourage more blooms.

Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonni). These very colorful daises are annuals.  They grow best when the days are warm and the nights are cool.   They like full to part sun and appreciate some shade in hot summer days.   Growing these in containers is an easy way to move the plant into shade if needed.  Likes very rich well drained soil.   Will bloom summer through fall.  

African Daisy (Ostespermum hybrid).   These are annual daisies and available in vibrant color combinations.  They like full sun and evenly moist, well-draining soil. What they don’t like is hot and humid summers.  I’ve found it’s best to plant these daises in containers and move them into shaded locations as needed.   Unfortunately, they may decline in a stretch of high humidity.   

English daisy (Bellis perennis).  These tiny daisies are listed as perennials, but often used as a biennial or short-lived perennial.  The plants are about 4-6 inches tall.   These plants can grow fast, die back in hot weather, then set seed.   Blooms early summer in full to part sun, but appreciate shade on very hot days. They are not drought tolerant and will require regular watering. They do best in cooler summers and may die back completely in hot weather.

Felicia daisy (Felicia amelloides) An annual daisy that is sometimes referred to as “Cape Town Daisy” or “Blue Daisy”.   Flowers are a pale blue with yellow center. Prefers moist and well-drained soil which needs to dry out between waterings.  This annual daisy loves full sun and is heat tolerant.  Blooms early summer through fall.