The classic daisy—with white petals arranged around a sunny yellow centre—is one of the most recognisable flowers in the garden.

However, the daisy look is not limited to white flowers. Many related plants produce the same open, circular form in purple, pink, orange, red, blue, and yellow.

These flowers belong mainly to the Asteraceae family. What appears to be one flower is actually a composite head made from numerous tiny flowers. The centre consists of disc florets, while the structures that resemble petals are usually ray florets.

This flower shape is not only attractive to gardeners. Its open structure can make nectar and pollen accessible to a wide range of bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, and other insects.

The following 12 flowers offer the familiar daisy appearance while introducing different colours, heights, flowering seasons, and growing habits.

Daisy-Like Flowers at a Glance

Plant size and flowering period vary by cultivar and climate.

Why Do So Many Flowers Look Like Daisies?

Most flowers on this list belong to the Asteraceae family, also known as the aster, daisy, or sunflower family.

Their flower heads contain many small individual flowers.

Two common structures are:

• Disc florets: Small flowers concentrated in the centre.
• Ray florets: Outer flowers with one long, petal-like structure.

This arrangement creates a highly visible landing platform for pollinators.

Not every flower commonly described as a daisy is a true member of the genus Bellis. Names such as African daisy, Shasta daisy, and ice plant refer to plants from different genera that share a similar appearance.

1. German Chamomile

German chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla, produces small white flowers with raised yellow centres. The blooms resemble miniature daisies and appear above fine, feathery foliage.

It is an annual that grows, flowers, sets seed, and completes its life cycle within one season.

Growing conditions

German chamomile generally prefers:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Moderate moisture
• Cool to mild growing conditions
• Light or moderately fertile soil

It may tolerate some partial shade, particularly in hot climates.

Sow seeds close to the soil surface because they require light for germination. Keep the area lightly moist until seedlings establish.

Garden uses

German chamomile works well in:

• Herb gardens
• Cottage gardens
• Pollinator plantings
• Raised beds
• Mixed flower borders
• Containers

The plant may self-seed when mature flower heads are left in place. Deadhead it before seeds mature if you want to limit spreading.

German chamomile should not be confused with Roman chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile, a lower-growing perennial sometimes used between paving stones or as a lawn alternative.

Important note

People with allergies to plants in the daisy family may react to chamomile. Do not consume home-grown flowers unless the plant has been correctly identified and grown without unsuitable chemical treatments.

2. Shasta Daisy

Shasta daisy, Leucanthemum × superbum, provides one of the closest alternatives to the traditional white daisy.

It produces white ray florets around a golden-yellow centre. Depending on the cultivar, flowers may be single, semi-double, frilled, or fully double.

Growing conditions

Shasta daisies generally need:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Moderate fertility
• Regular water during establishment
• Good airflow
• Division every few years when crowded

Wet winter soil can cause crowns and roots to rot. Avoid planting them in low areas where water collects.

Garden uses

Short cultivars work well near the front of a border or in containers. Taller varieties are suitable for:

• Cottage gardens
• Cut-flower beds
• Pollinator gardens
• Mixed perennial borders
• Mass plantings

Deadheading can extend the flowering display. Cut old stems back after flowering or leave selected seed heads temporarily for wildlife and winter structure.

Spreading considerations

Shasta daisies form clumps and may gradually expand. Some cultivars may self-seed.

They are different from oxeye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare, which is considered invasive or noxious in some regions. Check the botanical name before purchasing.

3. African Daisy

The name African daisy is used for several related groups, most commonly Osteospermum and Dimorphotheca.

These plants produce daisy-shaped flowers in colours that include:

• White
• Yellow
• Orange
• Pink
• Purple
• Blue
• Bi-coloured combinations

Some cultivars have dark blue or purple centres, while others feature spoon-shaped petals.

Growing conditions

African daisies generally prefer:

• Full sun
• Excellent drainage
• Moderate watering
• Mild temperatures
• Protection from frost

They often flower most heavily during spring and early summer. In very hot conditions, flowering may slow before returning when temperatures become milder.

Annual or perennial?

In warm, frost-free climates, some Osteospermum varieties grow as short-lived perennials. In cold climates, they are usually treated as annuals.

Check the species and cultivar because care requirements differ.

Container growing

African daisies are excellent container plants. Use a pot with drainage holes and avoid keeping the soil constantly saturated.

Remove faded blooms and lightly trim leggy growth to encourage a compact shape.

4. Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, has downward or outward-spreading petals surrounding a raised, cone-shaped centre.

The species typically produces pink-purple flowers, but modern cultivars are available in:

• White
• Yellow
• Orange
• Red
• Green
• Coral
• Deep pink

Growing conditions

Purple coneflower generally performs best in:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Average fertility
• Moderate water during establishment
• Good airflow

Once established, it can tolerate short dry periods, although flowering and growth are better with adequate moisture.

Benefits for wildlife

Coneflowers attract butterflies, bees, and other insects. If some mature seed heads remain through fall and winter, birds may feed on the seeds.

Avoid filling an entire garden with highly doubled cultivars if pollinator value is a priority. Some double flowers provide less accessible nectar and pollen than single-flowered forms.

Maintenance

Deadheading can encourage continued flowering, while leaving selected heads supports wildlife and winter interest.

Divide overcrowded plants when growth or flowering begins to decline.

5. Cosmos

Cosmos produces airy, daisy-like flowers above finely divided foliage. It creates an informal cottage-garden appearance and moves attractively in the wind.

Two widely grown species are:

• Cosmos bipinnatus, with pink, white, and burgundy flowers
• Cosmos sulphureus, with yellow, orange, and red-orange flowers

Growing conditions

Cosmos prefers:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Moderate to low fertility
• Warm weather
• Space for air circulation

Excessively rich soil or too much nitrogen may produce tall leafy plants with relatively few flowers.

Starting cosmos

Seeds can usually be sown directly after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed. They may also be started indoors several weeks earlier.

Avoid disturbing the roots excessively during transplanting.

Maintenance

Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and reduce unwanted self-seeding.

Tall cultivars may need support in windy locations. Shorter varieties are better suited to containers and small raised beds.

Chocolate cosmos, Cosmos atrosanguineus, is a different species grown from tuberous roots or vegetative material rather than treated exactly like common annual cosmos.

6. Branching Sunflowers

Not every sunflower produces one enormous flower on a single stem.

Branching varieties develop many smaller blooms, creating a display that looks more like a collection of oversized daisies.

Flowers may be:

• Yellow
• Cream
• Orange
• Bronze
• Burgundy
• Bi-coloured

Growing conditions

Sunflowers generally require:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Adequate root space
• Consistent moisture during establishment
• Protection from strong wind

They grow best when direct-sown after frost danger has passed. Tall varieties develop deep or extensive roots and may not perform well in small containers.

Choosing a variety

For repeated cut flowers, select a branching cultivar rather than a single-stem type.

Cultivars differ in:

• Height
• Pollen production
• Branching habit
• Days to flowering
• Flower colour
• Suitability for cutting

Pollenless sunflowers are useful for indoor arrangements but may provide less pollen for bees. If supporting wildlife is a priority, include pollen-producing varieties.

Maintenance

Space plants according to the seed supplier’s directions. Crowded sunflowers may develop thinner stems and smaller blooms.

Provide stakes or a sheltered location for tall plants exposed to strong wind.

7. Strawflower

Strawflower, Xerochrysum bracteatum, produces daisy-shaped blooms with a crisp, papery texture.

The structures that resemble petals are colourful bracts surrounding the small central flowers. They retain their shape and colour after drying, making strawflowers popular for dried arrangements.

Strawflower is a distinct species—not a cross between a chrysanthemum and a daisy.

Available colours

Strawflowers are available in:

• White
• Yellow
• Orange
• Pink
• Red
• Burgundy
• Bronze
• Mixed colours

Growing conditions

They generally prefer:

• Full sun
• Warm weather
• Well-draining soil
• Moderate watering
• Protection from frost

Avoid keeping the roots constantly wet.

Harvesting for drying

Cut flowers before they are fully mature. A good harvesting stage is when several outer layers of bracts have opened but the centre remains relatively tight.

Remove the leaves, tie small bunches, and hang them upside down in a dry, dark, well-ventilated location.

Harvesting regularly encourages the plant to continue producing flowers.

8. Asters

Asters provide daisy-shaped flowers when many summer plants are beginning to fade.

The common name includes several genera and species. Many North American native asters have been reclassified into genera such as Symphyotrichum and Eurybia, although they are still called asters in gardens.

Flowers may be:

• Purple
• Blue
• Pink
• White
• Lavender
• Occasionally red-purple

Most have yellow centres that may darken as the flowers age.

Growing conditions

Requirements vary by species, but many asters prefer:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Consistent moisture
• Good airflow
• Space to form a clump

Choose a species native or well adapted to the local region.

Late-season value

Asters can provide nectar and pollen in late summer and autumn, when fewer plants are blooming.

They combine well with:

• Goldenrod
• Ornamental grasses
• Coneflowers
• Sedums
• Black-eyed Susans
• Joe-Pye weed

Maintenance

Tall asters may become floppy. Cutting stems back by approximately one-third in late spring or early summer can create shorter, bushier plants, although this may delay flowering.

Some asters spread by rhizomes or seeds. Divide or thin them when necessary.

9. Desert Star

Desert star, Monoptilon bellidiforme, is a tiny annual wildflower native to desert areas of the southwestern United States.

Its small white or pale pink daisy-like flowers sit close to the ground above compact foliage.

Natural habitat

Desert star is adapted to:

• Desert soils
• Low rainfall
• Full sun
• Cool-season moisture
• Rapid spring development
• Hot, dry conditions after seed production

It commonly appears after suitable winter rain.

Is it a garden plant?

Desert star is better appreciated as a regional native wildflower than treated as a conventional bedding plant.

Seed and nursery availability may be limited. Do not collect plants or seeds from protected public land or fragile wild populations.

Gardeners in the plant’s native range should obtain seed from an ethical native-plant supplier and reproduce its natural drainage and seasonal conditions.

Gardeners outside its region should select a locally native low-growing daisy instead.

10. Cornflower

Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus, is also known as bachelor’s button.

Its outer florets create a fringed, daisy-like outline. Although electric blue is the traditional colour, cultivars are also available in white, pink, purple, blackish burgundy, and mixed shades.

Growing conditions

Cornflowers generally prefer:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Cool to moderate weather
• Average or relatively poor soil
• Moderate water during establishment

They are often direct-sown because seedlings develop quickly and do not always benefit from being transplanted.

Garden uses

Cornflowers work well in:

• Cottage gardens
• Cut-flower beds
• Wildflower-style plantings
• Pollinator gardens
• Containers
• Mixed annual borders

Deadhead to prolong flowering and reduce self-seeding.

Invasive potential

Cornflower has naturalised outside its original range and may be considered invasive or undesirable in some locations.

Check regional regulations before planting it. Do not include it in wildflower seed mixes near natural areas unless it is approved locally.

11. Calendula

Calendula, Calendula officinalis, is commonly called pot marigold. It is not the same plant as French or African marigolds in the genus Tagetes.

Calendula produces single or double daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, cream, apricot, and orange.

Growing conditions

Calendula prefers:

• Full sun
• Well-draining soil
• Cool to mild temperatures
• Moderate moisture
• Average fertility

It often performs best in spring and autumn. In warm climates, it may be grown through winter. Flowering may decline during intense summer heat.

Starting calendula

Seeds are relatively large and easy to handle. Sow them directly or start them in containers.

Deadhead faded flowers to encourage continued production. Leave selected heads to mature if you want the plants to self-seed.

Pollinator value

Single-flowered calendula varieties generally provide easier access to pollen and nectar than densely doubled forms.

Calendula may attract both pests and beneficial insects, but it should not be presented as a guaranteed trap crop. Monitor the entire garden rather than assuming pests will remain only on the calendula.

Edible use

Calendula petals are sometimes used as a garnish. Only consume correctly identified flowers grown without pesticides or other treatments unsuitable for food crops.

12. Hardy Ice Plant

Hardy ice plants in the genus Delosperma produce masses of brilliant daisy-like flowers over succulent foliage.

Flower colours include:

• Purple
• Pink
• Orange
• Yellow
• Red
• White
• Bi-coloured combinations

These plants remain low and spread horizontally, making them useful as ground covers.

Growing conditions

Hardy ice plants need:

• Full sun
• Extremely good drainage
• Sandy or rocky soil
• Limited winter moisture
• Protection from waterlogged conditions

They work well in:

• Rock gardens
• Gravel gardens
• Dry borders
• Containers
• Crevices
• Slopes
• Walls

Hardy ice plant vs. invasive ice plant

The name ice plant also applies to Carpobrotus species, some of which are highly invasive in coastal regions.

Delosperma and Carpobrotus are different genera. However, no plant should be assumed safe everywhere simply because it belongs to Delosperma.

Check the exact botanical name and regional invasive status before planting any spreading succulent ground cover.

More Daisy-Like Flowers to Consider

The daisy family contains many additional garden plants, including:

• Black-eyed Susan
• Blanket flower
• Coreopsis
• Sneezeweed
• Mexican sunflower
• Feverfew
• Fleabane
• Tickseed
• Zinnia
• Gaillardia
• Marguerite daisy
• Swan River daisy
• Painted daisy
• Japanese anemone, which has a similar appearance but belongs to a different family

Select plants according to climate, soil, moisture, and available space rather than appearance alone.

Best Daisy-Like Flowers for Full Sun

For beds receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight, consider:

• Cosmos
• Coneflower
• Sunflowers
• Strawflowers
• African daisies
• Calendula
• Shasta daisies
• Cornflowers
• Hardy ice plants

In very hot climates, some flowers appreciate protection from intense afternoon heat.

Best Daisy-Like Flowers for Containers

Compact varieties of the following plants work well in pots:

• African daisy
• Calendula
• Dwarf Shasta daisy
• Compact cosmos
• Dwarf sunflower
• Strawflower
• Hardy ice plant
• Compact aster
• German chamomile

Choose containers with drainage holes and match the pot size to the mature plant.

Tall varieties may become unstable in lightweight pots.

Best Flowers for Pollinators

Single-flowered forms generally offer more accessible pollen and nectar than highly doubled blooms.

Good options include:

• Native asters
• Purple coneflower
• Branching sunflowers
• German chamomile
• Cosmos
• Single calendula
• Native daisy species
• Regionally appropriate coreopsis and black-eyed Susans

Pollinator value depends on plant species, cultivar, flower structure, bloom timing, and local wildlife.

For the greatest benefit, plant several compatible species that bloom at different times.

How to Care for Daisy-Like Flowers

Provide sufficient light

Most daisy-shaped flowers perform best in full sun. Plants grown in too much shade may become tall, weak, and produce fewer flowers.

Avoid overly rich soil

Cosmos, cornflowers, coneflowers, and several other plants may produce excessive foliage when given too much nitrogen.

Apply fertiliser only when soil conditions and plant growth indicate a need.

Water the root zone

Water deeply and allow the surface to dry as appropriate for the species. Avoid frequent shallow watering that encourages shallow roots.

African daisies and ice plants are particularly sensitive to waterlogged soil.

Deadhead selectively

Removing faded flowers can extend blooming in many annuals and perennials.

However, leaving selected seed heads can provide:

• Food for birds
• Winter structure
• Natural reseeding
• Shelter for insects

Balance neatness with wildlife value.

Check spreading habits

Some daisy-like plants spread through:

• Seeds
• Rhizomes
• Expanding clumps
• Trailing stems

Check local invasive-plant lists and remove flowers before seed maturity if unwanted spreading is a concern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What flower looks most like a traditional daisy?

Shasta daisy has the closest familiar appearance, with white ray florets surrounding a yellow centre.

Which daisy-like flowers come in blue?

Cornflowers and certain African daisies provide blue or blue-purple shades. Many asters also bloom in lavender-blue and violet.

Which daisy-like flowers bloom in fall?

Asters, coneflowers, cosmos, branching sunflowers, and some African daisies can provide late-season flowers.

Which daisy-like flowers are perennial?

Shasta daisy, purple coneflower, many asters, and hardy ice plant are perennial in suitable climates.

Which are easiest to grow from seed?

Cosmos, calendula, cornflower, German chamomile, annual sunflowers, and strawflowers are generally straightforward to grow from seed.

Are all daisies invasive?

No. Invasive behaviour depends on the exact species and location. Oxeye daisy is problematic in some regions, while many native daisy-family plants are valuable parts of local ecosystems.

Can daisy-like flowers grow in raised beds?

Yes. Compact cosmos, calendula, African daisies, chamomile, strawflowers, and dwarf sunflowers are well suited to raised beds. Reserve enough space for taller or spreading plants.

Should I cut off dead daisy flowers?

Deadheading often encourages additional blooms and limits self-seeding. Leave some seed heads if you want natural reseeding or winter food for birds.

Are daisy-like flowers safe for pets?

Safety varies by species. Do not assume a flower is nontoxic because it resembles a daisy. Check the exact botanical name against a reliable veterinary database.

Final Thoughts

Daisy-like flowers can provide far more than the familiar combination of white petals and a yellow centre.

African daisies offer vivid modern colours, while cosmos creates an airy cottage-garden display. Coneflowers and asters support late-season pollinators, strawflowers provide long-lasting dried blooms, and hardy ice plants bring bright colour to dry, rocky spaces.

Before planting, check the botanical name, mature size, hardiness, and regional invasive status. Choose single-flowered, locally appropriate varieties when supporting pollinators is a priority.

With the right combination of annuals and perennials, a garden can display daisy-shaped flowers from spring through the first autumn frost.