When you think of wildflowers, it is most likely the daisy which comes to mind first. Just picture these proud white and yellow flowers bobbing in the breeze, filling meadows and roadsides with their ebullient charm. Daisies are tantamount with homespun allure. They grow unaided all over, and fill summer days with beauty. Childhood memories often include making daisy chains with these hardy stems, or creating simple bouquets for picnics or to brighten the home. Daisies say 'summer and sunshine are here.'
Daisies are members of the Asteraceae family, as are asters and sunflowers. The family name comes from the root Aster meaning 'star' (in this case used to indicate the star shaped blooms on all of the family members). These lovely blooms are actually composite flowers, possessing inflorescence, meaning basically that they have a flower head with different types of blooms present. The daisy has lovely petals which shoot out from a broad center. The center is covered with tiny blossoms called florets. These characteristics are shared by all flowers in the Asteraceae family, which is often called the Compositae family because of the nature of their 'composite' blooms. This family has the pride of being the second largest family in its division (Magnoliophyta), possessing around 1,100 genera and over 20,000 species! These species include mums, globe and Jerusalem artichokes, chicory, and even lettuce. Needless to say, daisies themselves come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. The most recognizable colors are probably those with white outer petals and a yellow center, or those with yellow outer petals and a darker center. Daises also come in seemingly endless combinations of purples, reds, rusts, yellows, whites, pinks, and oranges.
Daisies are grown by gardeners to add color and charm to landscapes. They are extremely robust plants and will thrive in most gardens, with a tendency to take over if not watched carefully. They are also grown commercially for ornamentation, and to be used in arrangements of all types. Due to their sturdy nature, daisies last for a long time as cut flowers, making them a perfect choice to bring indoors for an instant splash of cheer.