Bellis

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Bellis >

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Read about Bellis in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Bellis (Latin, bellus, pretty). Comp6sitx. English Daisy. The true daisy: a low perennial with single heads on scapes, planted in borders and edgings and naturalized in grass land. Fig. 535. The daisy, as it grows wild in England, has a yellow center, surrounded by numerous rays in a single row, but the favorite cult, forms are double, the rays rising in tier upon tier, and frequently crowding out every trace of a yellow center. The English daisy is essentially a pink or pinkish fl. in its general effect, the tips of the rays sometimes and the under surfaces usually being pink or red. There are about 10 species in the genus, only one of which is American. B. integrifolia is found in moist soil from Ky. and Tenn. to Ark. and Texas, but is too rare and sectional to become a general favorite. The plant that is most commonly called daisy in Amer. is Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum. For a list of the various plants known as daisies in Amer., see Daisy. Daisies are favorite border plants, and are much used in spring bedding, especially for edging. They thrive in a cool soil and moist atmosphere, and are, therefore, much better adapted to English than American gardens. They can be grown, however, in a cool greenhouse where they will flower profusely during February and March. Although the English daisy is a perennial, it can be very easily grown as an annual. A light mulch is desirable for winter protection. In home gardening, the plants, after flowering, are divided into single crowns. These are planted about 6 inches apart in good rich garden soil. Each crown soon sends out side growths, which, in time, form new crowns. Before winter sets in the young clumps can be moved readily to any place in the garden in which they are wanted to bloom. Daisies are also forced by florists for winter bloom. When daisies are desired for edging spring flower-beds, the clumps are divided into single plants during the previous September, or early enough to allow the new plants to get a firm hold before winter, and are placed 3 inches apart in a narrow trench. These edgings must be renewed each year, as the plants, if they grow well, spread too wide, or irregularly. In dry summers many roots fail, and if they remain in the same spot year after year, the flowers will degenerate to the single condition. The simplest way of propagating and growing English daisies for spring bedding in this country is to Bow the seed in shallow boxes about August 10. As soon as large enough to handle, transplant 5 inches apart into coldframes, and when the winter sets in put on the sash, giving air whenever the weather may be mild. Transplant to the flower beds as early as possible in the spring, where in a very short time they will be a mass of bloom, and will continue to bloom till the beginning of June, when they should be thrown out, and the summer bedding plants put in. Longfellow and Snowball are the two best varieties for this purpose. Myosotis alpestris and Silene pendula may be grown the same way, using the daisies as edging when in the beds, and the others as center pieces. The daisy is propagated by seeds (which are sown early), and by divisions, the choicest varieties being maintained by the latter method. The main types grown from seed are the white, rose, quilled, and white with red center, all of which are double. A dark red is less common. Of kinds propagated by seed, Longfellow is now the best rose-colored, and Snowball the best white variety, the latter being especially prized by florists for cut-flowers, as it has long, stiff stems. Other varieties are Maxima, Snowflake, and Rob Roy, which is perhaps the best red. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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