Common Daisy: The 137th Flower of Spring & Summer! (3 more below!)

What a surprise! I thought the little daisies that we all see in our lawns are Common Daisies! They aren't! "Lawn" daisies can be several different species but are usually "English Daisies".

This flower is much larger than a lawn daisy. It has blossoms that are about 1" in diameter and grows 5-12 off the ground, and can form large plants covered with pretty white blossoms. They are very drought-resistant and somehow manage to grow without any water at all! Another difference you'll notice is that the petals are fewer in number and each is wider than that of a lawn daisy.

Also known as an Oxeye Daisy, it's native to Europe and Asia, but has become naturalized all over the United States, Australia and New Zealand, growing in meadows, along roadsides and disturbed areas. It's considered to be a weed to some. Unopened flowers are sometimes marinated and eaten like capersin salads! I even found a Daisy Capers recipe! These flowers can cause contact dermatitis to those sensitive to allergies. Common Daisies are often found in wildflower seed mixes and are a popular cultivated flower.

If you would like to know more about this daisy, Wiki has a nice page here: Wiki: Common Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)