Growing Daisies: A Complete Care Guide for Bellis Perennis
You know the Daisy (Bellis Perennis)‚ a mat-forming perennial with white or pink petals and a central yellow disk‚ that grows 6 to 12 inches high in most gardens (though older books will tell you that it is still taller)․ It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9‚ nearly the entire state of Tennessee and all of the Southeast․
Let's get one thing out of the way: True Bellis Perennis‚ the English Daisy most commonly grown by gardeners‚ is a little plant‚ less than a foot high․ (If you were imagining something two or three feet tall at least‚ you were thinking of the Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)‚ a different plant entirely with much larger flowers which grows appreciably taller and bushier․) Both plants are desirable‚ though‚ with different landscape uses‚ so it is worth the while to distinguish between them․
What do daisies need to flourish?
Bellis Perennis prefers full sun‚ but in warm‚ humid summers such as Tennessee's‚ some afternoon shade can prolong flowering and protect the foliage․ Such conditions should provide 6 hours of sun and partial shade from the heat of the 3 o'clock sun for Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee in particular‚ as July and August can be brutal on cool-season plants․
The soil is sometimes surprisingly important: these plants prefer a sandy‚ well-drained soil‚ with a decent amount of organic matter․ Working compost or well-rotted manure into the planting bed before planting will noticeably improve flower production․ Heavy clay soil is popular in many areas of Tennessee․ If your yard is mainly clay‚ heavy amendments should be added to the soil before annuals are planted or they may rot rather than bloom․ If your yard has a persistent drainage problem‚ raised beds eliminate the problem and also allow more control over soil․
Plant daisies 12 inches apart․ The fungus powdery mildew can be especially troublesome on overcrowded daisies due to humidity and poor airflow․ The mildew takes the form of a powdery gray growth on the leaves during humid Southern summers․
Planting Timeline and What to Expect
When growing from seed‚ it is suggested that‚ after sowing directly onto the ground‚ gardeners cover the seeds with a light sprinkling of ⅛ inch of soil․ Germination takes 10 to 20 days in good conditions․ However‚ most seed-raised plants do not flower until the following season‚ which is probably not what you want to hear‚ so if you want flowers this year buy established plants in containers․ When planting outdoors‚ plant in early to mid-spring after the risk of a hard frost has passed (mid-March to mid-April in most of Tennessee‚ depending on your location)․
Container-grown perennials purchased from a nursery do not have to spend that first year settling their roots in (which honestly is the more practical approach for most home gardeners)․ TN Nursery offers already-established Bellis Perennis plants and Shasta Daisy plants that can be planted directly in the ground without the risk of not germinating or losing a season to take root․
Once your daisies are established‚ water them regularly their first year while they are sending down roots (an inch of water once a week‚ more if it is dry)․ After that‚ daisies are quite drought tolerant․ Expect better blooms‚ however‚ if you provide supplemental water during long dry spells․
Bloom Season and Deadheading
Daisies typically start blooming in late May or early June․ They are tolerant of colder temperatures and bloom well into the fall‚ sometimes up to the first hard freeze in milder years in Tennessee․ It is recommended that wilted blooms be clipped back to the base of the stem to encourage additional new blooms rather than simply pinching off the flowers' petals․ This deadheading process will redirect a plant's energy from making seeds to making more flower buds and can add several weeks to your overall bloom time․
By the end of fall the plant will naturally die․ When that happens‚ you should cut the entire plant down to approximately 2 to 3 inches above the ground․ This is not an optional tidying; it is what triggers the following year's strong spring regrowth from the root system․
Winter Care in Tennessee
Most of Tennessee falls in plant hardiness zones 6b‚ 7a‚ or 7b‚ so winters are cold enough to matter‚ but rarely cold enough for Bellis Perennis to die completely․ A 2 to 3 inch mulch layer of straw‚ shredded leaves‚ or bark applied after the fall cutback should protect the crown and roots from the freeze-thaw cycles which are so much harder on plants than steady cold․ As such‚ the step is better suited for East Tennessee's higher elevations and colder pockets than for Memphis or Nashville's warming and cooling valleys․
Dividing Established Plants
After 2 to 3 years‚ daisy clumps may have become overcrowded and have a limited root system‚ producing fewer‚ smaller blooms․ Dividing the plants at this time solves the problem and provides plants for other areas in the yard or garden․ Divide them in early spring before bloom‚ or in late fall after bloom․ Dig up the clump of plants and divide the roots of the plant by hand into sections․ Replace the divisions back into the ground 12 inches apart․
Pests and Problems
Fortunately‚ daisies are less attractive to insect pests compared to many other perennials․ The only exception is slugs‚ which can be especially problematic following periods of wet weather․ To avoid these problems‚ the soil around a plant can be covered with diatomaceous earth after watering‚ which harms only crawling pests by damaging their exoskeletons and does not harm helpful insects or domestic pets․
Humidity is a greater problem in Tennessee for fungal disease‚ and stagnant air or compacted soil can worsen the situation․ Sufficient spacing and soil drainage are both preferred in order to alleviate problems before they can occur․
Quick Reference
- Hardiness Zones: 4-9 (all of Tennessee) - Bloom Season: Late spring through fall - Bloom colors: white‚ pink‚ purple‚ red - Mature Height: 6-12 inches (Bellis Perennis)‚ 2-3 feet (Shasta Daisy) - Soil: Well-draining‚ amended with organic matter - Light: Full sun‚ tolerates light afternoon shade - Spacing: 12 inches apart
The daisy is neglect-tolerant‚ blooms for an extended period‚ and returns year after year․ All reasons why daisies have been one of the most popular flowers in gardens for decades․ Whether you need to finish a cottage-themed border or wish to create an easy-care flower bed along a walkway‚ TN Nursery can help you with flowering daisies‚ as well․
