Bellis

( BELL - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of perennial flowers includes species often treated as annuals, and is commonly referred to as English Daisy. These plants need shade in the hottest climates, but otherwise grow well in full sun. English Daisies need regular waterings and their flowers will attract bees and other pollinators to the garden. Species in the genus are native to Europe and Asia Minor. These plants do well in mixed beds and borders, containers, and are commonly found in informal or cottage-style gardens. They also make handsome cut flowers for arrangements. Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as there is some evidence that plant parts are toxic to pets if ingested.

bellis species and varietals

The genus Bellis is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes 13 distinct species. Generally, they grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4-10 or Sunset growing zones 1-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Bellis annua (Annual Daisy, Bebuna)
This species is native to an area that stretches from the Mediterranean over into parts of Iran, and forms an herbaceous with small leaves and flowers. Petals are white to pinkish with darker pink undersides and have yellow centers. Individual plants typically reach between 2 and 6 inches tall at maturity when in bloom.

Bellis perennis (Bone Flower, Bruisewort, Woundwort, Mary's Rose, Common Daisy, Lawn Daisy, English Daisy, May Gowan, Goose Flower, Herb Margaret, True Daisy, Noon Flower, Banwort)
This commonly grown species is considered to be the archetypal species of plants with the common name 'Daisy'. These plants frequently pop up in lawns and are notoriously hard to get rid of, hence the common name Lawn Daisy. They spread via creeping rhizome roots and typically reach 8 inches tall if not mown. Flowers are white and bloom from March through September. Young leaves can be eaten as salad greens, and flower buds and petals can be used in sandwiches, soups, and salads. There are many cultivars of this species, many with double flowers, including those listed below.

'Alba Plena'
With white double flowers.

'Enorma'
A mix with extremely long flowering stems.

'Floro Pleno'
Densely double red flowers.

'Habanera'
With large double white flowers with pink tips.

'Kito'
With cherry-pink flowers.

'Pomponette'
Densely double, small white, pink or red flowers.

'Robella'
With densely double, salmon-pink flowers.

'Rob Roy'
Double red flowers.

Bellis sylvestris (Southern Daisy, Wood Daisy, Mediterranean Daisy)
Native to central and southern Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa, this species of Bellis reaches just 6 inches tall and prefers woodland environments (hence the specific epithet, sylvestris). It produces a basal rosette of green foliage and white daisy-form flowers with pink petal undersides atop thin stems. Flowering stems are tall, reaching well above the basal foliage when plants are in bloom.

Caring for Bellis

Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as there is some evidence that plant parts are toxic to pets if ingested. Bellis plants can be purchased as seed or as starts from a reputable nursery. Plant English Daisies in a spot in the garden that receives full sun to partial shade (in warmer climates). Ideally, they should be receiving between 4 and 8 hours of direct sun daily. The more sun they get, the more they will flower. Late afternoon shelter from direct sun rays is required in warmer climates to avoid over-stressing plants or sunburning foliage. They prefer well-draining organically rich soil with a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. If growing in a container, make sure that soil is well-draining and that the container itself has adequate drainage holes so that plant roots are not sitting in standing water at any time. Mulch around the base of the plants with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold.

Fertilize yearly in springtime with organic compost. Pull back mulch before applying a few inches of compost around the base of the plant, work the compost in to the soil a bit, and then water. Reapply mulch after feedings, ensuring it stays a few inches away from stems. Remove spent blooms as they appear; doing so will encourage more flowers to form, and discourage self-seeding. Entire plants can be pulled each year and replaced, or cared for over the winter moths by mulching more around the base and cutting them back in late spring each year for a flush of new growth. Dead, damaged, or diseased stems and foliage can be removed at any time during the active growing season.

Harvesting Bellis
Bellis plants are a common foraging food, and produce young flower heads, buds, and leaves that are all edible. Young flower heads or buds can be added to salads, soups, or sandwiches, and flowers can be used as edible decoration for green or fruit salads. The leaves can be eaten raw, though are somewhat bitter. They are more mild when mixed into salads or used as an herb for soups or other cooked meals. Buds can be steeped in vinegar and used in dishes as a substitute for capers. Alternatively, flowers can be dried and used in tea.

Bellis, or English Daisy, plants are grown for their ornamental value in the landscape as well as their use as cut flowers. They combine well with many different types of flowers in fresh arrangements. Taller varieties are more useful in arrangements than compact ones. Harvest Bellis blooms just after all flowers have opened on a head, but before they start turning brown. The best time to harvest is in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are at their coolest. Cut flower stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and drop them in a bucket of cool water. The vase life of Bellis cut flowers is between 7 and 10 days.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Bellis flowers can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your English Daisy, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Bellis by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 1-2 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Bellis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the rhizome(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick rhizome section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided rhizomes about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.