The word “daisy” often brings to mind a simple, cheerful flower with white petals and a bright yellow center. While this classic image is accurate for many common varieties, it represents only a small fraction of the color diversity found within the daisy family, Asteraceae. Daisies, which include plants ranging from the familiar lawn flower to large garden perennials, possess a far more extensive palette. The true spectrum of daisy colors encompasses vibrant reds, deep oranges, and various shades of pink.
The Common Perception: White and Yellow Daisies
The quintessential daisy appearance is defined by species such as the Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) and the Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). These flowers feature a ring of pure white ray florets (commonly called petals) surrounding a central disc of tiny yellow disc florets. The English daisy (Bellis perennis), a smaller species often found in lawns, also displays this white and yellow pattern, which serves as an effective signal to attract pollinating insects.
The yellow color in the center of these common daisies is due to carotenoid pigments, which are also responsible for the color of carrots and autumn leaves. The white ray florets, however, lack color compounds, reflecting all wavelengths of visible light. This absence of pigment creates the pure white that has become synonymous with the flower’s form.
The Full Spectrum: Pinks, Reds, and Oranges
Moving beyond the traditional white and yellow, cultivated daisies showcase a range of tones. The Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii), a popular cut flower, is a prime example of this extensive color range, growing in hues like deep red, orange, and various pinks. Specific Gerbera cultivars can produce saturated colors.
Other varieties contribute to this expanded color palette. The African daisy (Osteospermum spp.) offers petals in pink, orange, and red tones. The Painted daisy (Tanacetum coccineum) features flowers in shades of pink, rose, and crimson. The Blanket flower (Gaillardia) often displays bicolors, with petals transitioning from red at the center to yellow or orange at the tips.
The Biology of Color: Pigments and Variation
The non-yellow daisy colors rely on chemical compounds known as anthocyanins, which are water-soluble pigments stored in the plant cell’s vacuole. These compounds are responsible for generating colors in the red, pink, and purple ranges. The intensity of a daisy’s red or pink hue is directly related to the concentration of these anthocyanin molecules within the petal cells.
Carotenoids, the pigments responsible for yellow and orange, are oil-soluble and stored in organelles called plastids. The final flower color is determined by the interplay between these two pigment groups, anthocyanins and carotenoids. For instance, an orange daisy is created by the presence of carotenoids combined with red anthocyanin pigment. Plant breeders focus on genes that control the production and concentration of these pigments to develop new colors in modern cultivars.