The daisy family (Asteraceae or Compositae as it used to be named) is a huge family of flowering plants, including artichokes, Calendula (pot marigold), chamomile, Echinacea, Michaelmas daisy and sunflower.
The common daisy or English daisy (Bellis perennis), usually just referred to as “daisy”, is available as relatively large-flowered varieties grown as winter and spring bedding plants. The species is a British native wildflower, and many people will remember making daisy chains of its flowers when young. But when it seeds itself and grows all over the garden, it is regarded as a weed.
Daisies are perennial plants that will grow in just about any part of the garden. They usually become more of a problem when they establish in the lawn – their low-growing rosettes of leaves covering and smothering the surrounding grass, causing bare patches.
These evergreens remain throughout the year and each plant is capable of producing numerous seeds. These can remain dormant in the ground for several years. And as “One year’s seeding means seven years weeding”, allowing plants to flower and produce seeds, means several years of trying to control and remove it.