Daisies, with their simple yet cheerful blooms, are a beloved addition to many gardens. Gardeners often wonder if these flowers will return year after year or if they need to be replanted. The answer depends on the specific type of daisy, as the term “daisy” encompasses a diverse group of plants with varying lifespans.
Understanding Plant Lifecycles
Plants are categorized by their lifecycle duration, which determines how long they live and when they complete their reproductive cycle. Annual plants complete their entire life cycle, from seed germination to flower production and seed dispersal, within a single growing season. After producing seeds, annuals typically die with the arrival of cold weather, requiring replanting each spring. Common examples of annuals include marigolds and petunias.
Biennial plants have a two-year life cycle. During their first year, they primarily focus on vegetative growth, developing roots, stems, and leaves, often forming a low-growing rosette. In their second year, biennials flower, produce seeds, and then die. Foxglove and sweet William are well-known examples of biennial plants.
Perennial plants, in contrast, live for more than two years, often returning to bloom for multiple seasons from the same root system. While their top growth may die back in winter, the roots remain alive underground, allowing new growth to emerge in spring. Hostas and peonies exemplify perennial plants, offering sustained beauty over many years.
Daisies: Annuals, Perennials, and Biennials
The broad classification of “daisy” includes several species, each with its own distinct lifecycle. English daisies, scientifically known as Bellis perennis, are primarily biennial plants. They typically form a leafy rosette in their first year, then produce their small, button-like flowers in the second year before setting seed and dying. In colder climates, however, English daisies are often cultivated as annuals due to their limited frost tolerance.
Shasta daisies, or Leucanthemum x superbum, are true perennials, known for their classic white petals and yellow centers. These robust plants reliably return year after year, producing larger, more prominent blooms than their English counterparts. Shasta daisies form clumps that expand over time.
Gerbera daisies, Gerbera jamesonii, are often grown as annuals in temperate regions because they are tender perennials. They can survive multiple years in warm, frost-free climates, but in areas with cold winters, they typically perish and must be replanted annually. Their vibrant, large flowers make them a popular choice for seasonal color. Oxeye daisies, Leucanthemum vulgare, are common perennial wildflowers. They are resilient, spread readily, and are often seen in meadows and along roadsides.
Practical Considerations for Daisy Care
A daisy’s lifecycle directly informs its cultivation and ongoing maintenance. For annual or biennial types like the English daisy when grown as an annual, gardeners should plan to replant them each spring. Regularly removing spent flowers, a process known as deadheading, can encourage more blooms. This practice prevents the plant from expending energy on seed production, redirecting it towards further flowering.
Perennial daisies benefit from occasional division every few years to maintain vigor and promote healthy growth. This involves digging up the clump and separating it into smaller sections to be replanted. In colder zones, a layer of mulch applied in late fall can help protect the perennial root systems from extreme winter temperatures.