English Daisy
The English Daisy comes in more than one type, and that is sometimes confusing to people who want to grow the English Daisy in their gardens. One of the reasons for this is that the Oxeye Daisy, or common daisy, is often called an English Daisy. The Oxeye Daisy is the plant that you see growing freely in fields and meadows--it has white petals with a yellow center. It is considered a weed and an invasive species by some but there are many cultivars of the English Daisy (bellis perennis) that come in a wide variety of colors and shapes.
While the common English Daisy has a single flower, these hybrid English Daisies have single, semi-double, and double flowers. They are perennials in cooler climates and biennials in very warm locations. These are the type of English Daisy most gardeners have in mind when purchasing seeds.
The English Daisy will grow just about anywhere there is fertile soil, plenty of sun and enough moisture. They do not grow well in clay soil. They can be propagated by dividing clumps or by seeds. Some of the varieties of English Daisies need to have their clumps divided every year so that they do not spread out of control. When planting seeds, they will take two weeks to germinate and need temperatures in the seventy degree range. They should be planted at least ten inches apart and watered well immediately after planting. Both natural and synthetic fertilizers work well with the English Daisy.
While the traditional English Daisy is most often recognized by its white petals and yellow center, there are some new types to check out. For instance, Goliath Mixed has large flowers (three-inch) and comes in some different colors, including salmon, pink and red as well as white. The Crimson Ball has three-inch flowers as well but they are very round and quite thick with sort of a pom-pom look. If you want that sort of look but a different color try the Salmon Ball or the White Ball. The Early Red and Early White cultivars have red or white double flowers respectively. Dwarf daisies that come in pink, red and white are known as Bright Carpet Mixed Daisies.
The Habanera English Daisy comes in mixed colors and likes cool weather. They are treated like pansies and grow prolifically in containers or in the ground. They are great on borders and don’t need as much sunlight as other daisies. The Habanera has double flowers around two inches wide. Unlike many plants, they can grow successfully in locations as cold as USDA hardiness zone three. Like pansies, there are treated as annuals in cooler areas and biennials in locations where it gets hot. They are very popular in rock gardens.