Bellis or daisies, perfect plants to decorate

Daisies are herbs

Plants of the genus bellis They are one of the most interesting to have in a garden, or to make with them beautiful compositions with other similar herbaceous plants that grow to more or less the same height.

Its flowers are undoubtedly its main attraction. They can be small or medium, but they are all very pretty. The best known is the margarita, but there are many more that I am going to present to you below.

Origin and characteristics of the Bellis

The botanical genus Bellis is composed of 10 species of herbs belonging to the Asteraceae family originating from the temperate and cold regions of central and western Europe. They grow into basal rosettes of oval or spatulate leaveswhich sprout from creeping rhizomes that are found under the surface of the soil. Its flowers, which appear in spring, are produced in inflorescences, which usually close at night and reopen at dawn.

They reach a height of between 10 and 30 centimeters, and are found especially in open fields, in areas exposed to direct sunlight.

Main species

The best known are:

annual wars

View of the Bellis annua

Image – Wikimedia Commons / Hagen Graebner

Known as annual margarita or bellorita, it is an annual cycle herb that grows up to 20-30 centimeters tall. The leaves are serrated and spatulate, 2-5 centimeters long and with a serrated margin. The flowers are white.

Perpetual wars

He lives in perpetual wars

Image – Flickr / alex ranaldi

Known as the chiribita, pascueta, vellorita or common daisy, it is a herbaceous perennial that reaches 20 centimeters in height. Its leaves are obovate-spatulate, crenate or toothed-rounded. The flowers are white, sometimes purple.

White daisies

Related article:

Curiosities about daisies

Bellis sylvestris

View of the Bellis sylvestris in habitat

Image – Wikimedia / Stefan.lefnaer

Known as wild daisy or bellorita, it is a perennial plant that grows to 15-20 centimeters tall. The leaves are serrated and spatulate, measuring 2 to 5 centimeters long. The flowers are about 3 centimeters in diameter and white.

How are Bellis cared for?

Keeping them in a well-kept garden or yard is not difficult. But so that there are no problems, or so that in the event that these arise you can know what measures to take, here is your care guide:

Location

They are plants that They must be outside, in full sun. In the shade, its stems and, consequently, its leaves, grow weak, etiolate (that is, with elongated shapes and without strength) due to the lack of light.

Earth

View of the Bellis microcephala

Bellis microcephala // Image – Wikimedia / Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

They are not demanding at all, but …:

  • the garden: they grow on almost all types of land. Even so, if the one you have is very compact and / or poor in nutrients, do not hesitate to mix the one you take from the planting hole with 20% as much cow manure (for sale here!) and / or perlite (for sale here!) depending on your case.
  • Flower pot: as it is about daisies, you can use universal substrate without problems (you have it for sale here!).

Irrigation

It will depend on the weather and the season of the year in which you are, but in general it will be necessary to water about 4 times a week during the summer season and 1-2 times a week the rest of the year. In any case, it is important to avoid waterlogging as well as drought; In other words, it is necessary to ensure that the plants always have the right amount of water.

Every time you water, make sure that the soil or substrate is capable of absorbing the water, otherwise you will have to drive a thin stick, preferably metal, several times to break the soil a little. Another thing you can do if necessary if you have it in a pot is to take it and place it in a basin of water for 30 minutes until it is well soaked.

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From early spring to late summer It is advisable to fertilize the Bellis so that they can have good growth and better development. Use organic fertilizers if possible, but you can also use compound fertilizers such as universal. Of course, if you intend to grow common daisies (Perpetual wars), since these plants have culinary and medicinal uses, it is better to pay them with ecological fertilizers.

Horse manure, a highly recommended fertilizer for nectarines

Multiplication

They multiply by seeds in summer-autumn. Also in spring if they are kept in a cool and dry place during winter. The step by step to follow is as follows:

  1. First, fill a seedbed with universal substrate and water.
  2. Then place a maximum of two seeds in each socket.
  3. Then cover them with a thin layer of substrate.
  4. Then water again.
  5. Finally, place the seedbed outside, in full sun.

Keeping the substrate moist, they will germinate in a week or ten days at most.

Pests

They can be attacked by tripsfound in flowers. They do not cause serious damage, although it is interesting to know that they are easily removed with the help of a small brush soaked in pharmacy alcohol.

thrips insects

Related article:

What are they and how do you fight thrips?

Diseases

They are sensitive to:

Planting or transplanting time

In spring.

Rusticity

Most of the Bellis do not resist the cold, but the species that are perennial endure frosts of down to -7ºC.

What uses are given to Bellis?

Daisy is a herb

Most are used as ornamentals, but the leaves of the Perpetual wars are consumed in saladsand also has medicinal properties to be antitussive, diuretic, healing, sudorific, digestive, ophthalmic, laxative and purgative.

What do you think of these plants?

Bellis or daisies, perfect plants to decorate

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