Perhaps one of the most familiar flowers of all, the humble Daisy can be seen flowering almost all year-round. Their persistent and widespread growth, heralding the arrival of spring to our gardens, has resulted in children using them to make necklaces (Daisy chains) and adults desperately trying to rid their lawns of them.
How to identify:
Daisies have spoon-shaped leaves that form a rosette at the base of the plant, close to the ground and among the short grass they favour. A single stem arises carrying the flower head - this is actually not just one flower, but a composite of a number of tiny flowers which make up the yellow disc in the middle and the surrounding white 'ray florets' (which look like petals).
Where to find it:
Widespread.
How people can help:
Many of our so-called 'weeds' are beneficial to wildlife, providing food for nectar-loving insects and shelter for minibeasts. Try leaving wilder areas in your garden, such as patches of Daisies and Red Clover in your lawn and Stinging Nettles near the compost heap, and see who comes to visit... To find out more about wildlife-friendly gardening, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.
Statistics:
Height: up to 10cm
Conservation status:
Common.
Did you know?:
The petal-plucking game, 'He loves me; he loves me not', is thought to have started with the Oxeye Daisy, but is now a common children's activity using the ubiquitous Daisy. While thinking of a suitor, each petal is plucked until the answer of whether love is possible becomes apparent. However, each 'petal' is actually an individual flower as Daisies have composite flower heads.
