How to Grow Daisies in a Garden or Container

In the 90s movie, You’ve Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly asks, “Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?” We say yes! A vase full of daisies displayed on a table will add a cheerful note to any room in your home. If you’re curious about how to grow daisies, then see our tips and how-tos.

What daisy varieties are available?

Here’s a list of beautiful daisy varieties that will brighten up your garden.

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)

The Shasta daisy is named for the snow on Mount Shasta in Northern California. This daisy is available in several cultivars, including:

• Banana Cream (lemon-yellow flowers which brighten to creamy white)
• Phyllis Smith (fringy white petals with a sunny yellow center)
• Alaska (classic, cottage daisy with yellow centers, white petaled flowers)

Growing Zones: 5 to 9

Soil Requirements: Dry to medium. Well-draining soil is essential as they do not like wet roots.

Light Requirements: Full sun. They can tolerate light shade in southern climates.

Moisture Needs: Shasta daises perform best in dryer soil. If your average rainfall is less than one inch a week, then give your Shasta daisies a drink.

Bloom Time: All summer, although June and July are peak seasons. Furthermore, trim spent flowers to encourage more blooms.

Pests and disease problems: Can be susceptible to aphids, mites, and leaf miners. These flowers may be susceptible to stem rot, leaf spots, and verticillium wilt.

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

This colorful daisy blooms in showy red, yellow, or orange flowers with bronze-yellow centers. Pastel and white types are also popular.

Additionally, single flower heads are 3 to 5 inches wide and grow on long leafless stems. This eye-catching daisy is available in single or semi-double versions.

The gerbera daisy was named for Traugott Gerber, a German botanist who lived in the 1700s.

Gerbera daisies are available in several cultivars, including:

• Sombrero (deep red blooms with purple-black centers)
• Woman (bright pink flowers with fluffy pink centers)
• Garvinea Sweet Glow (bold orange-red flowers with red and yellow centers)
• Pink Whisper (Bright pink petals with a pink and yellow center)

 Growing Zones: 8 to 10. Gerbera daisies are native to South Africa and so prefer warmer climates.

Soil Requirements: Grow in average to amended, medium moist, well-drained soil

Light Requirements: Full sun. It prefers afternoon shade in zones with hot summers.

Moisture Needs: Water regularly. To prevent fungal diseases, add water at the soil level and keep moisture away from the foliage.

Bloom Time: Summer to fall.

Pests and disease problems: Gerbera daisies have no serious insect or disease problems. Although, continually moist soil can cause rot. Routinely check plants for gray mold, powdery mildew, and anthracnose—also, monitor plants for thrips, aphids, leaf miners, spider mites, and whiteflies.

Painted Daisy (Tanacetum coccineum)

The colorful white, pink, or red blooms and fern-like foliage of painted daisies make this daisy variety a cutting garden favorite. Painted daisy is easy to care for and a favorite of butterflies.

In addition, it looks most attractive when grown in masses in a cutting garden, rock garden, or along a border.

Painted daisies are available in several cultivars, including:

• James Kelway (deep pink flowerheads, dark green foliage)
• Eileen May Robinson (pale pink with a yellow center, dark green foliage)
• Brenda (deep cerise-pink flowerheads, dark green foliage)

Growing Zones: 3 to 7

Soil Requirements: Prefers average, medium moisture, well-drained soil.

Light Requirements: Prefers full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day). Prefers afternoon shade in warmer climates.

Moisture Needs: Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist.

Bloom Time: Blooms in early summer. And, they may rebloom in the fall.

Pests and disease problems: Spider mites may be a problem in some zones. Check plants for aphids, leaf miners, and nematodes—no serious disease problems.

Are daisies perennial plants? Will they return each year?

Yes, daisies are herbaceous perennial plants. And, with good care, they will return next spring.

Moreover, the gerbera daisy can be grown annually in cooler zones.

What daisy varieties look attractive when grown beside each other in the garden?

A combination of white Shasta daisies and colorful Painted daisies in red and pink make a show-stopping display when planted next to each other in the garden.

Can I grow daisies in a planter?

Yes! Shasta daisies and Gerbera daisies grow well in pots. A few tips to keep in mind when growing daisies in planters:

• During the growing season, water plants weekly and add fertilizer once a month.
• Set planters in a location that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day.
• For best growth, repot daisy plants to a larger container yearly.
• Potted daisies can be moved to the garden in early spring or fall.

Are daisies considered invasive plants?

Some varieties are considered invasive plants because they grow vigorously and can easily spread. Daisy plants sold at plant nurseries or home improvement stores are rarely invasive.

Check with your local county extension office before digging or re-planting wild daisies and for more information on how to grow daisies in your area.

Did you know? Daisies are a symbol of innocence, purity, and motherhood. Annual daisy (Bellis annua) is often grown for its medicinal properties. Furthermore, drinking tea made from the dried flowers of annual daisies is sometimes used to treat a cough or bronchitis.