10 Beautiful Daisy Perennials for Gardens and Landscapes

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Shasta Daisy

Most Shasta daisies are perennials in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. Their white petals and yellow centers give them the classic daisy look. Shasta daisies have a lengthy blooming season and can add beauty to just about every garden setting.

One of the most common varieties is ‘Becky,‘ (Leucanthemum x superbum), which grows two to three feet tall with a big flush of blooms in early summer. The blooms are profuse and can extend even into the late summer if you pay enough attention and care for them properly. Put it in full sun and deadhead spent blooms, and you’ll enjoy daisy perennials all through the summer.

Another Shasta daisy variety is ‘Alaska,’ hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9. Grow it from seeds and it will bloom the second year after planting.

Expert tip: While growing Shasta Daisies, prepare the soil for good drainage and place a layer of mulch to prevent weeds and to help retain moisture. 

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Ox-Eye Daisy

You might find seeds for the ox-eye daisy (Leuanthemum vulgare.) included in wildflower seed mixes. It’s not a native flower, but it has the classic daisy charm. Introduced from Europe, it self-sows easily in Zones 3 through 8, where it’s hardy. However, gardeners must approach this variety with caution, since some areas like the Western states, consider ox-eye daisies to be invasive and should be avoided.

Once you plant ox-eye daisies, you’ll notice them popping up every spring in places where you didn’t plant them. While this might add spontaneity and life to your garden, it’s important to deadhead the blooms before they end up setting seed. Fortunately, they’re easy to pull out. 

Expert tip: Plant oxeye daisies in garden beds and controlled spaces to enjoy their lush blooms and spontaneity without risking invasiveness.

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Painted Daisies

For a blast of color, mostly in shades of red and pink, grow some painted daisies (Tanacetum coccineum.) You can start seeds indoors to plant outside in the spring. They should bloom the second year after planting. 

Another variety I recommend is the ‘James Kelway.’ These are named after the eponymous horticulturist and nurseryman from Somerset, England to honor his contribution to gardening. However, these do not bloom in their first year and require until their second year to burst forth with their rich hues. 

Painted daisies are famed for their striking pink, red, and purple blooms — making your garden more lively and rich, unlike the traditional white.

Perennials in Zones 3 through 7, painted daisies grow best in full sun with well-drained soil. They can also tolerate partial shade in warmer climates, especially in the afternoon. If you’re planning on planting these in hotter climates, ensure that these are placed in partial shade areas — especially for the afternoons in peak summer. 

Expert tip: Applying fertilizer during growing periods, and deadheading the spent flowers promptly can ensure better blooms as well as a longer blooming season. Moreover, these steps ensure colorful, and vibrant blooms throughout.

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Dahlberg Daisy

With the Dahlberg daisy perennial for your garden, you’re sure to bring a bright splash of yellow blooms to its environs. If you garden in Zones 9 through 10, you can grow Dahlberg daisies (Thymophylla tenuiloba) as a perennial. Everywhere else, they’re annuals.

Start from seeds by sowing in the garden in spring, or by starting seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. Sometimes called bristleleaf, these yellow daisies are native to Texas and Mexico and exhibit excellent drought tolerance. This makes them great for low-water gardens and ideal for xeriscaping projects.  They’re short enough to be considered a ground cover plant and a good choice for covering borders, edging pathways, or filling rock gardens.

Expert tip: For continuous blooms, plant Dahlberg daisy perennials in well-drained soils under full sun.

English Daisies

Many of us would love daisies growing in our lawns, and that’s often where English daisies (Bellis perennis), can be found. But one gardener’s lawn flower is another gardener’s weed, so these are most often grown as annuals. They’re hardy in Zones 4 through 8. These types of daisies for gardens can be paired with pansies for a nice, cooling aesthetic in your garden. 

English daisies come in several shades of pink and white and can be grown from seeds or purchased as plants. They prefer cooler temperatures, which is why they probably do better in England than the hottest areas of the United States. 

They’re perfect for borders, containers and wildflower patches. They’re well-adapted to perfectly drained soil and partial sun. 

Expert tip: English daisies can help create a nice carpet effect in your garden. Plant the seeds in a dense pattern and water well while ensuring the soil drains well. Deadheading the spent flowers will aid better flowering.

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Blue Daisy

Yes, there is a blue daisy! It’s called Felicia amelloides and it’s native to South Africa. A perennial in Zones 10 through 11, it’s an annual everywhere else in the U.S.—hinting at cooler regions.

It only grows up to 10 inches tall, small enough to fit well in a container planting in a sunny location.To keep it producing flowers, cut off spent blooms. You can purchase varieties like ‘Cape Town‘ in the spring that are readily available and produce stunning blooms promoted by reliable growth.

Expert tip: Blue daisies tolerate drought well once they’re established. However, in their initial stages they require regular watering and prefer well-drained soil. Consider planting in areas that don’t receive strong winds and fertilize mildly to see better blotches of color bloom in your garden.

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Gerbera Daisies

You might find gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) as potted flowers at a local florist, or in the spring at the local garden center. These daisies are only perennial in Zones 8 through 10. Most of us grow them as annuals.

The big flowers come in shades of orange, yellow, pink and red. Deadhead to keep them blooming through the summer. If you’re tempted to try to them, keep in mind they don’t like to be disturbed. It’s best to bring them indoors in the same pot they grew in all summer and put them where they’ll get bright light. They’re perfect for adding cheerful accents that add pop to your garden or patio. 

Caring for gerbera daisies requires you to avoid overwatering them once inside. Only water when dry, ince these bright blooms prefer waterings only after a bit of dryness in the soil. Ensure you check the top inch before watering. Place them in spaces with bright but indirect sunlight.

Expert tip: Place gerbera daisies in well-drained soil and avoid over watering. Mild fertilizer every few weeks can ensure better blooms in the growing season, besides paying attention to sufficient air circulation to prevent fungal infections.

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Gloriosa Daisy

Gloriosa daisy is one of the common names given to the perennial flower Rudbeckia hirta. The other is black-eyed Susan. They’re usually hardy in Zones 4 through 9. But because they are often short-lived perennials, some people treat them like annuals and don’t expect them to return the following spring. These traits make them perfect for naturalized gardens that still retain some of their wild charm. 

Grow them from seeds in the garden. ‘Double Gold’ is an heirloom variety with double the number of yellow petals that grows up to three feet tall. Don’t forget to check out the list of short perennial flowers, since this daisy perennial is bound to pair excellently with them. Again, like other varieties, deadheading spent flowers will promote better, long-lasting blooming seasons. 

Expert tip: Plant gloriosas in nutrient-rich soil supplemented with mulch to trap moisture. For mixed compact arrangements, you can consider pairing options with summer perennials for both aesthetics and ergonomics.

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Leucanthemum ‘Sweet Daisy Birdy’

Leucanthemum ‘Sweet Daisy Birdy‘ is a relatively new Shasta-type daisy, a perennial in Zones 3 through 10. It grows up to two feet tall and flowers early—making it perfect for borders, garden beds as well as containers. It will keep flowering if you deadhead it regularly.

The white blooms look like regular common daisies from a distance, but up close you’ll notice the center ringed by what looks like tiny white flowers. Since they bloom early in the season, you can expect a lush presence across your garden with this novel variant. Their blooms can be prolonged with regular maintenance and some supplementation with fertilizer. 

As with most daisies, these prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They were named an All-America Selections regional winner in 2021.

Expert tip: Planting sweet daisy birdies in groups will result in uniformly ‘popped’ blooms that will become quick eye-catchers in the garden. Pairing with contrasting colors will result in an even vibrant space.

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Leucanthemum ‘Carpet Angel’

If you want a perennial daisy in your garden but prefer it short enough to be ground cover, ‘Carpet Angel’ may be just what you are looking for. This perennial, named an All-America Selections winner in 2023, grows only six inches tall but spreads out about 20 inches. Its size makes it perfect for a variety of spaces including beds, corners, pathways and even rock gardens. 

Hardy in Zones 4 through 10, it prefers full sun and well-drained soil like most other Shasta-type daisies. With occasional deadheading, it should bloom through the summer. Moreover, the deadheading also ensures the blooms remain vibrant and promote better plant health in the long term for this Shasta-type daisy. 

Expert tip: Pairing with tall, ornamental grasses might create a layered contrast—bestowing a natural look to your garden. Since these are low-maintenance, the carpet angel can easily fill up empty spaces in your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which daisies are perennials?

Daisy perennials include varieties like Shasta daisies, Oxeyes, Painted daisies and Gerberas. These plants can flourish year upon year given the right conditions.

How do you care for perennial daisies?

Perennial daisies often thrive in well-lit bright spaces, with some under direct sunlight. Avoid overwatering and ensure deadheading to promote better, fuller blooms.

What is the difference between Shasta daisies and Oxyeye daisies?

Oxeye daisies are smaller, natural-looking blooms capable of self propagation. This makes them an invasive species in some areas. On the other hand, Shasta daisies are hybrids that have large blooms with more defined color.

Can daisies survive winter?

While daisies within their hardiness zones can certainly survive winters, it’s important to protect them with mulch on the soil to retain insulation and prevent frost.