Bellis perennis, the daisy, is a European species of the family Asteraceae, often considered the archetypal species of the name daisy. To distinguish this species from other plants known as daisies, it is sometimes qualified or known as common daisy, lawn daisy or English daisy.
Flowers that resemble daisies are immediately recognizable by their classic, balanced structure: a round central disc surrounded by radiating petals. The contrasting center and petal colors often enhance their charm, making them stand out even when mixed with other blooms.
Some of these daisy lookalikes bloom in soft whites and yellows, closely imitating the traditional field daisy. Others bring a more colorful twist to the daisy form, presenting shades of red, pink, purple, or even blue. Some have ruffled, fringed, or layered petals and raised centers. These blooms are particularly common in wildflower meadows.
Across regions and climates, flowers that mimic daisies carry the same spirit of resilience and beauty. They thrive in a wide range of conditions, often blooming generously and for extended periods.
Flowers That Look Like Daisies
Gerbera
Gerbera blooms are larger versions of classic daisies, with bright, bold petals in red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. They’re popular as cut flowers and can last a long time in arrangements.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
These golden-yellow blooms with dark brown centers mimic wild daisies but with a more dramatic contrast. They’re hardy, easy to grow, and attract pollinators.
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
A close lookalike, the oxeye daisy resembles the common daisy but often grows taller with slightly larger white petals and sunny yellow centers.
Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum)
This well-known garden flower looks almost identical to the classic daisy, but produces bigger blooms and a longer flowering season.
Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers mimic the daisy’s petal arrangement but are distinguished by their raised, spiky central cones. Their purple, pink, and white petals droop slightly downward, adding character.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Chamomile flowers have the same white petals and yellow centers as daisies, though smaller in size. They’re valued for both beauty and their use in herbal teas.
Aster
Asters bloom in late summer to fall, resembling daisies with their star-like petals in shades of purple, pink, and white surrounding golden centers.
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
With clusters of small white flowers, feverfew looks like miniature daisies. Beyond their charm, they have a long history in traditional medicine.
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
These bright, bicolored blooms look like fiery daisies, with red, orange, and yellow petals radiating from a central disc. Their bold patterns set them apart.
Coreopsis
Often called “tickseed,” coreopsis has daisy-like flowers in yellow and gold tones. Some varieties produce double blooms that appear fluffy yet still daisy-shaped.
Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens)
These Mediterranean favorites strongly resemble common daisies, with delicate white or pink petals and golden centers, often grown in containers.
Townsendia (Easter Daisy)
A low-growing alpine flower, townsendia produces small, bright blooms that look like tiny daisies, often carpeting rocky ground in spring.
Cape Daisy (Osteospermum)
Cape daisies share the same shape as traditional daisies but bring a twist with vibrant colors like purple, blue, and bi-color blends.
Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)
This perennial produces sunny yellow flowers that mimic the daisy form. It blooms profusely in summer and adds a cheerful splash of color to gardens.
Tickseed Sunflower (Bidens aristosa)
A wildflower with bright yellow petals and a golden disc, it closely mimics daisies and attracts bees and butterflies in abundance.
Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)
These coastal flowers have purple or pinkish petals with yellow centers, resembling small, colorful daisies adapted to sandy soils.
Blue-Eyed Daisy (Felicia amelloides)
Native to South Africa, this charming flower has sky-blue petals surrounding a bright yellow center, creating a striking daisy-like look.
Michaelmas Daisy (Symphyotrichum spp.)
Blooming in late summer to fall, these starry flowers look like classic daisies but often come in purples, blues, and pinks, brightening autumn gardens.
Swan River Daisy (Brachyscome iberidifolia)
This dainty annual has lavender, blue, or pink daisy-like flowers with yellow centers, popular in bedding and container gardens.
Kalimeris (Kalimeris pinnatifida)
Sometimes called “Japanese aster,” this plant produces small, daisy-like flowers with pale purple or white petals and golden discs.
Mexican Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)
This hardy groundcover blooms profusely with small white daisy-like flowers that fade to pink, often creating a two-tone effect.
Treasure Flower (Gazania)
These bold, sun-loving blooms resemble daisies but feature striking patterns and vivid shades of orange, red, and yellow with banded centers.
Butter Daisy (Melampodium divaricatum)
A cheery yellow flower with a daisy-like form, it blooms continuously through summer, brightening borders and garden beds.
Cape Marigold (Dimorphotheca sinuata)
These African natives resemble daisies with their orange, yellow, or white petals and sunny centers, thriving in hot, dry climates.
Blue Daisy Bush (Arctotis stoechadifolia)
Also called African daisy, this species produces large daisy-like blooms in vivid colors such as white, orange, and blue.
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Though more slender and drooping than others, its radiating petals around a central disc give it the classic daisy resemblance.
Desert Star (Monoptilon bellioides)
This desert wildflower is a true daisy lookalike, producing small, white, daisy-like blooms in arid, sandy landscapes.
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Its golden-yellow flowers have a daisy-like shape with slightly fringed petals and dome-shaped centers, blooming late into the season.
Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
Also called firewheel, this wildflower produces daisy-shaped blooms with red centers and yellow-tipped petals, giving a fiery two-tone look.
Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta var.)
A larger form of black-eyed Susan, these bold flowers have daisy-like petals in shades of gold, bronze, or red with a contrasting dark center.
Creeping Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata)
A spreading groundcover, it produces small golden-yellow daisy-like flowers that carpet the ground throughout the growing season.
Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)
While taller and bolder, tithonia’s blooms are daisy-shaped, with bright orange petals surrounding a golden disc, loved by butterflies.
Cape Snow Daisy (Dimorphotheca pluvialis)
These annuals produce white, daisy-like blooms with a blue-purple ring around the center, opening in sunlight and closing at night.
Sand Daisy (Arctotis fastuosa)
A desert native, sand daisy flowers feature large, daisy-like heads in brilliant shades of orange, red, or cream with dark central discs.