Thursday, May 10, 2012

Pocketful of Sunshine

Growing daisies is like having your own pocketful of sunshine.

Even on a rainy day, somehow this bedraggled pair of Gerbera daisies remind me of a well-worn teddy bear or a flop-eared pup.

There are many daisies and daisy cousins that we can grow in Central Texas with very little effort.  Here are a few blooming in my garden right now.


The Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is considered a weedy, invasive pest in some U.S. States, but in my garden it's a reliable, drought tolerant perennial.  It reseeds a little, but the volunteers are easy to weed out or save for transplanting.  The plants form a shrubby little mound about a foot tall and the bright, sunny flowers are borne on long stems that reach for the sun.


The Shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum) was introduced by Luther Burbank in the early 1900's.  He started with the Oxeye daisy and cross-pollinated it with other daisies before finally coming up with the perfect daisy.  The numerous white petals and perfect little yellow button centers form the quintessential daisy on precisely upright stems.  Luther knew his stuff.



The Blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) is a tough native Texas perennial that doesn't like to be babied.  The daisies might be tiny, but they are tenacious.  Grow the Blackfoot daisy in rock gardens or on edges of hot sunny borders.


The Copper Canyon daisy (Tegetes lemmonii) is a perennial shrub that blooms in the spring and the fall in response to the shortened day length.  This plant can get tall and rangy, so give it some space to spread out.  


Dahlberg daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba) is a new addition to my garden.  I'm just getting to know this plant, which was recently given to me by Jenny at Rock Rose.  It's diminutive, yellow daisies and fern-like, airy foliage make it an excellent addition to the front of my mixed border.


Four-Nerve daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa) has been in my garden for as long as I can remember.  This is one tough little plant of about 4-6 inches tall.  The little yellow daisies are held up on stems that are almost invisible, giving the flowers the appearance of floating just above the foliage.


The Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a daisy relative that I love.  I haven't always had the best success with this plant, but this year I was rewarded with Coneflower seedling volunteers that I am nursing along until the day I can transplant them to a new spot.


Still flush with my Coneflower success, I recently jumped at the opportunity to buy this unusual orange variety.  I planted it in a sunny bed with a back drop of Bamboo Muhly and common Artemisia just in time to take advantage of the recent rainfall.  


Would you like a pocketful of sunshine on a rainy day?  Plant some daisies.  They're guaranteed to make you smile.

11 comments:

  1. Daisies just brighten up the world, don't they? Wonderful photos. You have such gorgeous Daisies growing in your garden.

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    1. Daisies sure do brighten up the world. I couldn't agree more!

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  2. We can always rely on the daisies to make a good showing. Love your new coneflower color. I have never had much success with other colors except for the white. Let us know if it survives more than one year. What is the copper canyon daisy doing blooming now? I have all kinds of fall flowers blooming. Crazy weather.

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    1. My Copper Canyon Daisy has been blooming for about a month after not blooming last year at all. I think it's making up for lost time.

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  3. Great photos all around. I also love those in the daisy family--always cheerful and usually tough--a good combination.

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    1. That's my favorite kind of plant; carefree and lookin' good.

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  4. I do love daisies. I don't have enough around here. They like sun, and my sunny spots are in the deer infested areas.
    Copper Canyon would work out there, though. I just need to add them in, until I get it right.
    That is a good color in the coneflower. Hope it works out.

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    1. I've had surprisingly good luck with the Shastas in part shade. My Copper Canyon gets afternoon shade, but it doesn't seem to mind.

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  5. So enjoyed your pictures and descriptions! Purple coneflower is my absolute favorite, followed closely by sunflowers, but I may have to plant a few of these daisies and give them a run for their money!

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  6. Daisies are so cheerful... they just make me so happy:) Love purple coneflower. I haven't had success with this plant. I really like the orange variety. So pretty!

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  7. Daisies are such happy little flowers! My coneflowers are late to start this year. Surprising as everything else seems about a month ahead of schedule. They've been eaten by something (snails/slugs, I think). I lost a patch in the drought but thankfully, some survived. I wish I had room for the copper canyon. Yours looks happy.

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