These cheerful blooms are universally popular as ornamental plants, prized for their simple, bright appearance that often features a central disk surrounded by ray petals. Whether the goal is to cultivate a garden bed, fill a vase with a fresh arrangement, or simply expand an existing collection, the methods for obtaining daisies vary significantly. This guide outlines the most common avenues for acquiring seeds, plants, and fresh-cut stems to suit any purpose.
Acquiring Daisies for the Garden
By purchasing them as seeds or live plants from commercial retailers, daisies can be introduced into a landscape. Local garden centers and specialized nurseries offer a curated selection of both annual and perennial varieties, providing access to established plants that are ready for immediate planting. Big-box stores with garden departments also stock common types, often offering competitive prices on starter plants or seed packets during the spring planting season.
Reputable online seed and plant suppliers offer the widest selection, including varieties like the classic white-petaled Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum) or colorful African daisies (Dimorphotheca). When purchasing live plants, it is important to choose specimens with healthy, green foliage and robust root systems, avoiding those that appear wilted or have yellowed leaves. Seeds should be certified or sourced from a supplier that provides clear germination rates and planting instructions.
The choice between annual and perennial daisies impacts the timing of the acquisition and planting. Perennial varieties, such as Shasta daisies, are planted to return yearly, while annuals, like some African daisies, must be planted each season. Gardeners should consult their local plant hardiness zones to ensure the selected perennial variety will survive the winter temperatures in their region. Seeds are typically sown outdoors after the last frost, or started indoors six to eight weeks earlier to give the seedlings a head start.
Sourcing Daisies as Cut Flowers
Fresh cut flowers are best sourced from specialized vendors. Traditional florists offer the benefit of expert arrangement and can often provide the freshest stock, sometimes sourcing directly from local growers. Grocery store floral departments provide a convenient and generally less expensive option for single stems or simple bunches.
Farmers’ markets and roadside stands are excellent places to find locally grown cut daisies. When selecting cut daisies, particularly popular varieties like Gerbera daisies, look for stems that are firm and free of excessive damage or discoloration. The center disk florets should appear fresh, and the flower head should be fully open or nearly so.
To maximize vase life, the cut stems should be re-trimmed at a sharp angle immediately upon returning home and placed in clean water treated with a flower preservative. Proper hydration and avoiding direct sunlight will help the blooms last for approximately five to seven days.
Propagating Daisies from Existing Stock
Propagating new plants from existing stock is a common practice for perennial varieties. Division is a highly effective method for daisies that form clumping root systems, and this process also rejuvenates older, overcrowded plants. The best time to divide these clumps is typically in the early spring before new growth begins, or in the early fall after the main blooming period has finished.
To perform division, the entire clump is carefully dug up, and the root ball is gently separated into smaller sections, making sure each new section has both roots and at least one crown of leaves. These newly separated divisions can then be immediately replanted into prepared soil in a new location. Dividing perennials every three to four years helps maintain plant vigor and prevents the center of the clump from dying out.
New daisies can be grown from seeds collected directly from established plants at the end of the growing season. Instead of deadheading spent blooms, the flower heads are allowed to dry completely on the plant until they turn brown. The dried heads can then be harvested, and the tiny seeds are released by crushing the seed heads over a container. These collected seeds can be stored in a cool, dry place and sown the following spring, or they can be scattered on the soil surface in the fall to allow for natural stratification and germination.