13 Types of Daisy Flowers to Brighten Your Garden

Given that there are over 20,000 types of daisy flowers that come in an endless array of bright colors and interesting formations, it makes sense that they’re the poster child for the Flower Power movement. As my absolute favorite flower, I’ve only planted a small handful of the types of daisies available. And as a consummate daisy lover, these are some of my all-time favorites.

Picture a daisy in your head. Chances are it’s got a yellow center and elegant, long white petals, right? The common daisy, with its white, spoon-shaped outer petals and yellow center, is a perennial favorite. From making daisy chains to boldly wearing them as a political statement, this type of daisy is one you can’t forget.

Gerbera daisies are native South African plants with extremely vibrant and full blooms. They look like oversized common daisies and range in color from orange to pink to red to yellow and so much more. When you think of springtime, you probably envision this rainbow variety.

Daisies belong to the Asteraceae family, and some members might surprise you. Asters, with their slender purple petals and yellow centers, share that iconic daisy shape. Though purple might be the perennial's favored color, you can also find it in blue, pink, red, and white shades.

I have a soft spot in my heart for coneflowers. Much like weeping willows, they have a certain melancholic look that just draws you in. Belonging to the daisy family, coneflowers are best known for their protruding, cone-shaped centers, and drooping petals. The most common coneflower color you see is a purplish pink, but they also come in orange, red, white, and yellow.

African daisies are another type of daisy you can grow. A low-maintenance variety, these flowers’ petals curl inwards when they’re in distress. This can lead to a unique, spiky-looking petal shape. When they’re in full bloom, they come in a brilliant shade range including purple, yellow, orange, red, and white.

Related: 20 Vibrant Spring Flowers That Welcome Warmer Weather

Another extremely common daisy you’ve seen plastered across 90s fashion and backyards in the eastern United States is the black-eyed Susan. Known for its bright, buttery yellow petals and dark brown centers, these daisies can grow large and in charge.

Painted daisies look like something you’d see walking out of a Lewis Carroll novel. These daisies have wider petals and a whirling slash of contrasting color towards the center of their petals that gives them an arresting look. These sun-loving flowers will add a little pizazz to any garden.

Creepy daisies look incredibly similar to common daisies, though they’re much more petite. This groundcover daisy is perfect for adding a pop of color to your borders. These small white and yellow flowers make for great additions to your summer set-up.

Garland daises have a similar petal distribution to gerbera daisies but come in an iconic white and yellow color scheme. Native to the Mediterranean, these flowers look like someone dipped their fingers into the sunshine yellow centers and smudged the base of the petals with it. One look and these flowers will immediately call up visions of 90s blo-pens.

Once again, an unusual member of the Asteraceae family pops onto our list. Common marigolds are a daisy relative, though their eye-watering orangey-yellow hues should be enough of a clue as to their close relationship. And these flowers are just pretty enough that we don’t mind their bitter smell.

Related: 15 Yellow Spring Flowers for a Pop of Sunny Color

The crazy daisy didn’t get that name for nothing. Imagine shredded tissues rolled into tubes and glued to a fluffy yellow center and you’ve got the crazy daisy. This Shasta daisy cultivar has brilliant double blooms that it’s not afraid to show off. So, if you’re looking for something to add to your garden that no one else will have, this one is it.

Take a pair of scissors and just cut long, thin strips into the edge of construction paper, and you’ve got a vague semblance of a Livingstone daisy’s petals. This low-maintenance annual may only be here for a short time, but its blooms are well worth it. Native to South Africa, this flower comes in multiple vibrant hues including hot pink, sunset orange, and goldenrod yellow.

Surprisingly, chrysanthemums belong to the Asteraceae family, too. Although, their stacked petals share little resemblance to the delicate daisies you’re probably familiar with.

Yet, tiger tail chrysanthemums share a similar color palette to many of the daisies on this list. With a yellow center ringed with white, pink, and orange petals, this is a great typical daisy alternative.

No matter how tempting these colorful daisies look, make like the Doris Day film and, “Please don’t eat the daisies.” Coming in a rainbow of colors, sizes, and temperaments, all of these types of daisies will bring a smile to your face any day of the year.