Designing with Daisies: Mass Planting vs. Mixed Borders

Garden design involves countless decisions, but the fundamental difference from other design disciplines is that each choice affects a living thing. After addressing a plant's growing conditions, you still have creative options. Today's subject: the unassuming daisy—a classic, sun-loving, low-maintenance flower adaptable to various soils. The core design question: mix or mass?

Shasta Daisy

The familiar "he loves me, he loves me not" flower looks fabulous in large drifts but also shines as a standalone clump surrounded by other perennials. Which do you prefer?

Botanical name: Leucanthemum × superbum
Common names: Shasta daisy
USDA zones: 5-8
Water requirement: Water to establish, then drought tolerant
Sun requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

Black-Eyed Susan

These classic daisy-form flowers with their yellow-and-black "buzzing bee" combo brighten fields from Nebraska to Pennsylvania.

Botanical name: Rudbeckia hirta
Common names: Black-eyed Susan
USDA zones: 3-11
Water requirement: Water to establish, then drought tolerant
Sun requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 2 to 10 feet tall depending on variety

Mixed in a perennial border, Black-eyed Susans brighten lackluster beds and contrast beautifully with blues and purples.

Do you prefer two colors intertwined or a more orderly arrangement?

In a naturalistic planting, Black-eyed Susans weave among native prairie grasses—tough enough to handle the competition.

Clumps of these blooms suit a naturalistic landscape design.

Coneflower

Another Asteraceae family classic, the coneflower's traditional form features a cone-shaped center and genteel purple petals. Massed along a stone border, they make a stunning summer statement.

Botanical name: Echinacea
Common names: Coneflower
USDA zones: 3-9
Water requirement: Water to establish, then drought tolerant
Sun requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 2 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

These tough prairie natives also interweave beautifully among other garden plants. Which looks best to you?

The choice to mass or mix daisies is yours—they're resilient enough for either approach and beautiful enough to complement countless designs. How will you plant your daisies this year?