The common daisy, scientifically known as Bellis perennis, is a widespread perennial plant often found colonizing lawns and grassy areas across temperate regions. This flower plays a significant role in ecosystems, acting as an accessible and reliable food source for numerous insect species. Its presence supports biodiversity, especially during the early spring and late autumn when other floral resources may be scarce. The relationship between this plant and its visitors is a simple yet effective model of plant-pollinator mutualism, sustaining the insects that ensure the daisy’s reproduction.
Understanding the Common Daisy’s Structure and Appeal
The daisy belongs to the Asteraceae family, meaning its “flower” is actually a composite head, or pseudanthium, consisting of many tiny individual flowers. This structure is composed of two distinct types of florets: the outer white ray florets, which are generally female, and the central yellow disc florets, which are bisexual. A single flower head, typically measuring between 14 to 30 millimeters in diameter, can contain approximately 125 individual florets.
This flat, open arrangement makes the daisy a highly generalist resource for insects. Unlike tubular flowers that require specialized mouthparts, the daisy’s pollen and nectar are fully exposed and easily accessible to a wide variety of feeders. The bright visual contrast between the white rays and the yellow center acts as a visible landing platform, guiding insects directly to the nutritional rewards. This accessibility allows the plant to be pollinated by many different types of insects.
Key Pollinators Dependent on the Daisy
The open design of Bellis perennis attracts a broad spectrum of small insects, including bees, flies, and beetles. These insects are often generalists that benefit from easily accessible pollen and nectar. Among the most frequent visitors are small generalist bees, including various solitary species that utilize the daisy’s offerings for pollen collection and energy.
Flies, particularly hoverflies (family Syrphidae), are also important pollinators. Hoverflies possess simple mouthparts, making them unable to access nectar found deep inside tubular flowers. The daisy’s flat surface and exposed nectar are perfectly suited to their feeding mechanism, making it a preferred feeding site. These flower flies are highly effective at moving pollen while foraging.
Beetles also contribute to the daisy’s pollination, though often less efficiently than bees or flies. The daisy provides nutrient-rich pollen and nectar, which are necessary for the health and productivity of its insect visitors. By supporting these less specialized feeders, the daisy helps sustain a diverse insect population throughout its flowering season.
Practical Methods for Attracting These Pollinators
Attracting these generalist pollinators starts with adjusting garden maintenance practices to accommodate the daisy’s growth habit. Allowing patches of Bellis perennis to naturalize in lawns and garden edges provides an immediate and continuous food source. Simply reducing the frequency of mowing, or setting the mower blade to a higher height, permits the low-growing flowers to bloom and remain available for foraging insects.
To maximize the visual appeal for insects, planting daisies in dense blocks or large swathes is more effective than scattering single plants. Gardeners should prioritize single-flowered varieties over ornamental double-flowered cultivars. The extra petals in double flowers often obstruct the insect’s access to the pollen and nectar, reducing the flower’s value to pollinators.
Supporting the entire life cycle of these insects involves providing more than just flowers. For hoverflies, this means creating habitat for their larval stage, which feeds on garden pests like aphids. Leaving small, unmaintained areas in the garden, such as piles of leaves or brush, provides sheltered sites where many insects, including hoverflies, can safely overwinter.
For small bees that nest in the ground, leaving areas of undisturbed, bare soil exposed to the sun is beneficial for egg-laying and development. Providing a shallow water source, like a dish with small pebbles, helps prevent these small insects from drowning while offering a safe place to drink during dry periods. The most direct action to support all beneficial insects is the avoidance of broad-spectrum insecticides, which do not discriminate between pests and valuable pollinating species.