With their long, colorful petals bursting like rays of sunlight, daisies are the perfect flowers for delivering warm smiles to those we love most. But this beautiful blossom isn’t just an American favorite; its bright and cheery spirit is cherished by people all around the globe. After all, daisies are members of the biggest plant family in the world—vascular plants, which make up 10 percent of all flowers on Earth—and grow on every continent except Antarctica. Want to find out why this happy little flower has captured so many hearts? Here’s everything you need to know about daisies!
History of Daisies
It’s believed that the daisy gets its name from the Old English phrase “daes eage,” or “day’s eye,” because of the way the flower blossoms at the first sign of dawn. Daisies have been around since 2,200 B.C., when the ancient Egyptians grew them in their gardens and used them as herbal medicine. The daisy family, scientifically known as Compositae, was officially classified in 1792 by German botanist Paul Dietrich Giseke.
The Gerbera, the most well-known daisy variety in the modern world, was discovered in 1884 in South Africa by a Scottish man named Robert Jameson. In 1890, it was brought to England, where breeders grew a variety of Gerberas that boasted brighter colors and sturdier quality. The popularity of Gerberas slowly spread to the Netherlands, which became one of the biggest Gerbera daisy distributors in the world—a title it still holds today.
The daisy is no wallflower: With more than 20,000 different types in its category, this pretty bloom is an A-list celebrity in the flower kingdom. Here are three of the most famous kinds of daisies that really know how to soak up the spotlight:
Gerbera Daisy: The fifth most popular flower in the world, the Gerbera comes in a full rainbow of colors, including pink, orange, yellow and red. Its vibrant petals make it the flower of choice for celebrating every happy occasion, from birthdays to weddings.
Shasta Daisy: With its soft, pearly white petals radiating from a golden center, the Shasta daisy is a timeless classic. It’s not only one of the largest daisies, but also one of the easiest to grow and care for. Plus, you can enjoy its hearty blooms season after season.
Rudbeckia: Also known as the Black-Eyed Susan, the Rudbeckia has fiery yellow petals and a deep brown center—almost like a miniature sunflower. Their reputation as low-maintenance and long-lasting blooms makes them a favorite of flower-lovers everywhere.
Other well-known daisy varieties include:
- Barberton Daisy
- Blue Daisy
- Butter Daisy
- Crown Daisy
- Dahlberg Daisy
- Feverfew
- Giant Daisy
- Gloriosa Daisy
- Kingfisher Daisy
- Lazy Daisy
- Livingstone Daisy
- Marguerite Daisy
- Michaelmas Daisy
- Montauk
- Nippon Ox-Eye Daisy
- Ox-Eye Daisy
- Painted Daisy
- Paris Daisy
- Spanish Daisy
- Sunshine Daisy
- Swan River Daisy
- Tahoka Daisy
- Tansvaal Daisy
- Tatarian Daisy
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