Leucanthemum
Daisy
The "day's eye," as the daisy was known in Old English, is like a tiny sun surrounded by white rays. The common field, or oxeye, daisy is a species of chrysanthemum native to Europe. Its scientific name is Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. Tradition says that it was carried to America in hay brought to feed the horses of General John Burgoyne's army during the Revolutionary War. The painted daisy (Chrysanthemum coccineum) has white, crimson, or lilac flowers. These two daisies are related to pyrethrum, from which an insecticide is made petals of the English daisy (Bellis perennis) are white tinged with pink. The black-eyed Susan, also known as the yellow daisy (Rudbeckia hirta), is a common wild flower. The striking white Shasta daisy is a hybrid developed by Luther Burbank. Michaelmas daisies are species of asters. All daisies are members of the family of plants called Compositae. (See also Chrysanthemum.)
Additional:
One of the most common varieties of daisy has white petals surrounding a yellow center. The versatile painted daisy may be an annual, a biennial, or a perennial. Many varieties have been developed.
Growing and Maintenance Tips:
Grow in full sun or light shade in moist soil that has been well supplemented with peat moss. Set plants 8 to 9 inches apart. New plants can be grown from seeds. Sow seeds in the spring or summer to flower the following spring. If heavily petaled double flowers are wanted, buy fresh seeds of the double-flowered strains; seeds from homegrown plants usually produce single-flowered seedlings even though the parent plants had double blossoms. New plants can also be propagated when dividing the clumps, which should be done every year to prevent overcrowding.
