Types of Daisies
The Flora of North America Project currently documents 418 genera, 2413 species in North America.
To non-specialists, the purple daisy in the top picture, or a variation of the flower with white, yellow or reddish petals, typifies members of the family. In fact, many, but not all, Asteraceae species share the physical trait of having multiple, thin petals surrounding a central disk or eye.
Identification of these species can be very difficult for anyone except an expert. Balsamroot, Brittlebush, Gold Star, Goldeneye Daisy, Mule Ears and Oregon Sunshine represent Asteraceae genera that, like the sunflower, fit into the yellow petal category. Identifying them is a matter of examining the flower head size, shape number of petals along with the shape and size of the leaves.
While Asteraceae identification does present challenges, the shear number of species and genera means there is sufficient within family physical diversity to make identification less than impossible for many individual plants, at least at the level of genus. Blazing stars and blue mistflowers, for example, are members of Asteraceae genera that do not look like traditional daisies.
The species or genus listed on the right represent a very small sample of Asteraceae species, each with some unique qualities. Most of the listed species are native, North American plants, commonly found growing in natural settings.
A couple of the more colorful species such as the African Daisy, Firewheel and Mexican Flame Vine, make great garden choices, especially for a fall garden.
© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels