5 Fascinating Facts About Daisies You Probably Didn't Know
Exuding freshness, happiness, and innocence, daisies are one of the most well-known flowers around the world. When you think of daisies, you probably picture classic white petals around a bright yellow center, but you may be surprised to learn there are many other varietals that go by the same name (think Gerbera daisy or English daisy). Most types of daisies begin blooming in early summer and keep on going through the fall. Here are five more interesting facts about daisies.
Peter Krumhardt
1. Daisies Grow (Almost) Everywhere
Though they originated in Europe and temperate regions of Asia, daisies were eventually introduced to Australia and North America and can now be found on every continent except for Antarctica. Their abundance is partially due to their adaptive nature—daisies can thrive in both wet and dry climates, adapt well to sunny or shady areas, and can grow high in the mountains or on flat, grassy fields. Basically, daisies are botanical chameleons. Bonus: They're actually related to sunflowers, so you can find them growing in similar habitats to their larger yellow cousins.
2. Their Name Is Meaningful
The common name daisy originates from the Old English phrase "Daes eage," which translates to "day's eye." This name reflects how these flowers close their petals in the evening and reopen them come morning, making daisies some of the first eyes to open to the morning sun each day.
3. They're More Than Just a Pretty Face
Of course, daisies add texture and color to backyard landscaping and make a lovely addition to bouquets and centerpieces. However, daisies also can be used for much more than just their good looks. Perhaps most surprisingly, you can actually eat daisies! The next time you're looking for a unique and pretty garnish for your salad or cake, pluck some daisies from your yard and sprinkle them on top. Daisies are actually closely related to artichokes, so they're a great source of vitamin C. Additionally, daisies also have lots of medicinal properties—they're known to slow bleeding, relieve indigestion, and soothe coughs.
4. Bees and Other Pollinators Love Daisies
Bees have a thing for daisies, and Shasta daisies in particular are one of their favorite flowers to pollinate. The flat shape of the flower is especially attractive to bees because there's plenty of room to land on the yellow center to collect pollen and nectar. The center of a daisy also contains hundreds of smaller flowers that combine to create a cluster called an inflorescence, which allows bees to efficiently collect a lot of food from one landing.
5. Daisies Are Symbolic
As a flower, daisies symbolize innocence, purity, loyalty, patience, and simplicity. The classic white daisy is associated with humility, while the more rare blue Marguerite daisy hints at openness and peace. A bouquet of daisies can be the perfect gesture for many different occasions, depending on which varietal you choose. Along with their color being symbolic, the daisy is the birth month flower for April.
