The Plantfinder's Guide to Daisies

This book focuses on plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), nearly all of which have the characteristic daisylike appearance found in the lawn daisy (Bellis perennis). These plants are valuable members of the herbaceous border, with genera like Rudbeckia, Gazania, and Osteospermum already enjoying great popularity. The distinctive, rounded daisy shape acts as a useful foil to plants with more upright forms, and the precision of the individual florets contrasts well with small-flowered plants that lack definition. The genus-to-genus variations on the daisy flower head are illustrated by high-quality photographs taken both outdoors and inside the studio, and the author provides exactly the information gardeners will need as this plant group continues to grow in importance. Chapters focus on such key issues as the daisy's history, contribution to gardens, botany, and propagation. The book's centerpiece is an extensive A-Z of genera, species, and varieties.