The 13 Most Colorful Daisies

Daisies bring joy to gardens with their bright centers and striking petals. The name "daisy" originates from the Old English word dægeseage, meaning "day's eye," as these flowers bloom under sunlight and close at night.

"Daisies are wonderfully uplifting flowers that add charm to any garden," says Alex Worley, a certified master gardener and owner of Gardenine. "Beyond their beauty, some varieties also help repel garden pests, including mosquitoes."

Fortunately, these resilient and low-maintenance flowers from the Asteraceae family come in many varieties. Here are eight types of daisies to consider for adding vibrant colors to your garden.

Types of Daisies

Daisies come in a range of colors, from classic white petals with yellow centers to shades of red, pink, and violet. Below are some of the most well-known varieties and their ideal USDA growing zones.

English Daisy

The English daisy (Bellis perennis), also called the common daisy, is typically white but can also be found in pink and rose hues. Its bright yellow center is a signature feature. English daisies are perennial in zones 4 to 8 but may behave as biennials or annuals in different climates.

African Daisy

The African daisy (Osteospermum spp.) resembles the English daisy but features more vivid colors, including yellow, pink, fuchsia, blue, and purple. Native to South Africa, they are also known as Cape daisies and often have striking metallic-colored centers. They thrive in zones 10 and 11.

Gloriosa Daisy

Commonly known as Black-Eyed Susans, Gloriosa daisies (Rudbeckia hirta) are easy-to-grow perennials with golden-yellow petals that may be accented with fiery red around a dark brown center. These hardy flowers flourish from summer to fall and grow in zones 3 through 10.

Blue Marguerite Daisy

The Blue Marguerite daisy (Felicia amelloides), also called the blue daisy bush, has stunning sky-blue petals and bright yellow centers. This compact, bushy plant remains evergreen in warmer climates and grows best in zones 9 to 11.

Shasta Daisy

The Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum) resembles the traditional daisy with large white petals and a golden center. This hybrid combines features of European and Japanese daisies and flourishes in zones 5 to 9.

Cape Daisy

The Cape daisy (Dimorphotheca ecklonis), also known as Cape Marguerite, is a perennial shrub that grows up to 3 feet tall. Its blooms can be pink, white, or purple with dark centers encircled by a blue-violet ring. It thrives in zones 9 through 11.

Indian Chrysanthemum Daisy

The Indian Chrysanthemum daisy (Chrysanthemum indicum) features vibrant yellow or white flowers with deeply lobed dark green leaves. It grows annually in all zones but can be perennial in zones 7 through 12.

Gerbera Daisy

The Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) produces large, colorful blooms in shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, and white. Native to South Africa, these daisies are hardy in zones 8 through 10 but can be grown as annuals in cooler regions.

Desert Star Daisy

The Desert Star daisy (Monoptilon bellidiforme) thrives in arid environments, particularly in the American Southwest. These tiny, low-growing flowers are white or tinged with purple or pink and flourish in zone 9.

Dahlberg Daisy

Dahlberg daisies (Thymophylla tenuiloba), also called golden fleece, are annuals native to Texas and Mexico. These drought-tolerant flowers prefer sandy, well-draining soil and grow in zones 9 and 10.

Livingstone Daisy

The Livingstone daisy (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis) is a low-growing succulent with flowers in shades of pink, purple, cream, orange, and yellow. These sun-loving, drought-resistant plants perform best in zones 10 and 11.

Michaelmas Daisy

Also known as the New England Aster, the Michaelmas daisy (Symphyotrichum spp.) is usually light purple and thrives in marshy areas. This adaptable plant can tolerate nutrient-poor soil and varying light conditions. It grows in zones 4 to 8.

Cape Marigold Daisy

The Cape Marigold daisy (Dimorphotheca sinuata), native to South Africa, is an annual with vivid orange blooms. It works well as ground cover or a filler between shrubs and grows best in zones 8 to 10.

Each of these daisy varieties offers unique beauty and resilience, making them excellent choices for any garden.