The 13 Most Colorful Daisies to Brighten Your Garden

Daisies bring a burst of cheer to the world with their happy, sunny centers and striking petals. The daisy flower is named after the Old English word dægeseage, which means “day’s eye,” because daisies open under the sun’s rays and the petals close at night.

“Daisies are incredibly cheerful flowers that can brighten up any garden,” says certified master gardener Alex Worley, owner of Gardenine. “In fact, we love growing them for more than just their beauty. Some varieties repel bugs in the garden, including mosquitoes.”

Luckily, these stunning flowers from the Asteraceae plant family come in many different varieties and are resilient and low-maintenance—here are eight types of daisies you should think about adding to your own garden for some splashes of color.

Types of Daisies

Daisies come in many varieties, with blooms ranging from signature white petals and yellow centers to more colorful hues like red and violet. Below are some of the most common types of daisies and the USDA zones where they flourish.

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English Daisy

English Daisies — Credit: Tina Terras & Michael Walter/Getty Images

English daisy, Bellis perennis, also known as the common daisy, often has white petals. The flowers can come in a variety of colors though, including pink and rose. The sunny yellow centers of English daisies are classic daisy trademarks. English daisies are perennial but biennial in the southern U.S. and annual in the northern U.S. The cheerful blooms grow in zones 4 through 8.

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African Daisy

African daisy, Osteospermum spp., looks similar to traditional English daisies but with more vivid colors. African daisies, which are native to South Africa, are also called Cape daisies. Their petals are brilliantly hued and may be yellow, pink, fuchsia, blue, and purple. Their centers often sport striking metallic shades of blue or purple, earning them the nickname “blue-eyed daisies.” African daisies grow in zones 10 and 11.

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Gloriosa Daisies

Gloriosa daisies, commonly known as Black-Eyed Susans, are beautiful, easy-to-grow perennial flowers. Its sunshine-yellow petals, often lined with fiery red, radiate around a prominent dark brown center for a bold look. These sturdy perennials can last well into fall. Gloriosa Daisies grow in zones 3 to 10.

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Blue Marguerite Daisy

Blue Marguerite daisy, Felicia amelloides, also known as the blue daisy bush or blue felicia, has stunning sky-blue blooms and bright yellow centers. These cheerful plants have compact, rounded bushes with soft, green leaves that remain year-round in warmer climates. Blue Marguerite daisies grow in zones 9 to 11.

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The Shasta Daisy

The Shasta daisy, Leucanthemum × superbum, resembles the classic daisy with its large, white blooms and sunny yellow centers. This striking plant is a hybrid created by combining the best characteristics of oxeye daisies and other European and Japanese species. It grows in zones 5 through 9.

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Cape Daisy

Cape daisy, Dimorphotheca ecklonis, also known as Cape Marguerite, is a perennial flowering shrub that reaches 2 to 3 feet tall. The eye-catching flowers may be pink, white, or purple with a blue-violent ring around dark centers. Cape daisies grow in zones 9 through 11.

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Indian Chrysanthemum Daisy

Indian Chrysanthemum daisy, Chrysanthemum indicum, is a vibrant plant with yellow or white daisy-like flowers and dark green, deeply cut leaves. The daisies grow in all zones as an annual and zones 7 to 12 as a perennial.

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Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisy, Gerbera jamesonii, are large, colorful daisies with flowers in various hues, including yellow, orange, pink, red, and white. These South African natives are hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10 but can be grown as annuals in colder climates.

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Desert Star Daisy

The desert star daisy (Monoptilon bellidiforme) thrives in—you guessed it—desert conditions. It’s native to the desert regions of the American Southwest. You’ll see these tiny blooms in white or white tinged with a light shade of purple or pink, and they don’t normally grow taller than 2 inches. They thrive in zone 9.

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Dahlberg Daisy

Dahlberg or golden fleece daisies (Thymophylla tenuiloba) are bushy annuals native to Texas and Mexico. They’re commonly used as garden borders and ground covers. These sunny flowers do well in sandy, well-draining soil. They are extremely drought-tolerant and should be planted in zones 9 to 10.

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Livingstone Daisy

The Livingstone daisy (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis) comes in a beautiful range of colors, including pink, purple, cream, orange and yellow. They’re low-growing annual succulents, which means they require a lot of sun but are also incredibly drought-resistant. They do best in zones 10 to 11.

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Michaelmas Daisy

Beautiful late summer flowering blue Michaelmas daises, New York Aster, Fall Aster flower in soft sunshine — Credit: Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images

The Michaelmas daisy (Symphyotrichum spp.), also known as New England Aster and New York Aster, is usually light purple and is native to marshy areas. It’s a very forgiving plant—it can grow in nutritionally poor soil and tolerates different types of lighting (though it prefers lots of sun). It thrives in zones 4 to 8.

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Cape Marigold Daisy

The breathtakingly beautiful annual wild flower spectacle of Namaqualand. In early Spring the desert blooms and puts on one of nature's greatest shows. — Credit: Henrik Karlsson/getty Images

The Dimorphotheca sinuata is a South African annual known for its orange hue. It’s perfect to use as ground cover or filler between shrubs. It does especially well in zones 8 to 10.

Growing and Caring for Daisies

Daisies are generally versatile, hardy plants that can grow in a variety of conditions. They tend to be low-maintenance, but there are a few requirements for them to grow well. Also, note that your specific type of daisy may include needs that deviate from the average. In general, though, most daisies do well in the following conditions.

Sunlight

Daisies thrive in sunny conditions, so plant them in areas that get direct sunlight with at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Soil Requirements

Daisies grow well with well-drained soil so their roots can dry out between waterings. Aim for a neutral to slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 7.0.

Water

After planting your daisies, water them weekly with 1 to 2 inches of water at the base of the plant during the growing season. You can slow down watering to every other week during the winter months. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.

“I prefer watering early in the morning about once a week, aiming to moisten the top 2 inches or so of soil,” Worley says. “Proper watering encourages deep root growth for hardier plants you can rely on for extended blooming periods. Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to fungal issues.”

Your climate will also affect your plants’ watering needs. Daisies growing in hot, dry conditions need more water than daisies in cool, moist places.

Fertilizing

Give your daisies a balanced fertilizer once a month or as instructed on the packaging. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to leaf growth over blooms.

Pruning and Deadheading

Daisies do not need much pruning, but regular deadheading will keep them blooming. Remove spent flower heads to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season. To do this, pinch off the faded flower head where it meets the stem.

“Deadheading spent blooms is crucial,” Worley says. “Snip just below the flower head to encourage more buds. For bushy growth, shear occasionally to remove old growth and shape the plants. I would be careful not to cut into green parts, but if leaves start looking tired later in summer, cut the daisies back by one-third to rejuvenate them.”

Common Pests and Diseases

Daisies are generally resistant to pests and disease, but watch out for aphids, slugs, and fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Use organic methods like insecticidal soap or neem oil to control pests. To prevent fungal issues, improve air circulation, ensure you don’t overwater your daisies, and make sure they have enough sunlight.

Are Daisies Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Yes. According to the ASPCA’s animal poison control guide, daisies are toxic to a variety of pets, including cats and dogs. They may experience dermatitis, gastrointestinal distress, or worse. Keep pet snoots out of your garden if daisies are present.