The Common Daisy Bellis Perrennis is a common lawn weed and is a native European plant, but has spread as far a field as Asia and North America. Intrestingly Bellis seems to come from bellus, Latin for “pretty”, and perennis is Latin for “everlasting”. Which sums up this plant in more ways than one.
However, this small white and yellow ‘rossetted flower’ often the bain of lawn keepers everywhere, wanting to rid their lawns of daisies should not be confused with the now popular ‘Bellis Daisy’. This daisy is, botanically bred from Bellis Perennis the ‘wild daisies’ and used to fill garden beds, rock gardens, patio pots etc….
Our common bellis perennis daisy has leaves that are small, very dark green which are rounded to ‘spoon shaped’ in looks. Measuring ¾ – 2’in (2-5 cm) long. They grow from a central rosette on a ‘single’ hairy stalk, bearing a small ‘rosette’ of thin white petals, which surrounds a bright yellow centre. Often the white petals are ‘tinged’ with pink.