Weeds That Look Like Daisies (with pictures)


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The daisy is a happy wildflower, and people love to pick it and place it in the house. It has pretty white petals surrounding a yellow disk in the center, and most people know what it is. In spite of this, it is an invasive weed in many places, and it can be out of control on the lawn. There are other flowers that resemble daisies, and they aren’t always quite as invasive.

What Do Daisies Look Like?

Daisies are flowering plants that are part of one of the largest families in the world. You have probably seen a daisy before, with its white petals surrounding a yellow disk in the center. They are pretty flowers even though they are considered invasive.

Where Do You Find Daisies?

The common daisy is cold hardy, and it is a perennial that is found in zones four through eight. There are other varieties that appear in milder climates, and they bloom each year across lawns and in the wild. Their blooms emerge in late spring, and they continue blooming until the early fall. They will droop if they don’t receive the care they need, including food, water, and sunlight.

Weeds That Look Like Daisies

Chickweed

The common chickweed is a winter annual broadleaf weed. It grows in dense patches that stand up tall, and it germinates from seeds late in the summer. It does best in shady and moist conditions, and it can grow throughout the year.

You will notice it because it has a unique leaf shape and it grows prostrate. The leaves are on stems sitting opposite one another, and the older stems can be hairy, while new growth is smooth. The leaves are usually in the shape of an egg or an oval, and they are light green and smooth. Those near the top of the stem don’t have stems, while those lower do have long, hairy stems.

In the spring, you will see clusters of white flowers that look like daisies. They have five white petals, and there is a lobe that makes it look like twice as many petals. People often want to control their growth, and the best way to do this is by mulching three inches around the garden. This will help cut down on germination.

Chickweed does well in compacted soil that has poor drainage, and you need to remove the excess moisture if you want to prevent it from growing. It also does well in the shade, and if you pull it by hand when you first see it, it is possible to control it. You can distinguish it from daisies because it has just five petals.

Daisy Fleabane

Another weed that resembles the daisy is the daisy fleabane, but it has narrower petals. It is either an annual or biennial plant, and it stands one to three inches tall. On the lower half, it doesn’t have branches, but it has stems that are lateral. The stem is light green or purplish green, and it has longitudinal grooves. The leaves alternate and measure up to four inches, and they are smaller as they get closer to the top.

The upper leaves are light green, and the flowerheads are about a half inch across. The flowers have between 40 and 100 ray florets, and they surround a lot of disk florets. The petals are white most of the time, but they can be pink or purple. The disks are usually yellow. They have shallow tops, and they have secondary fibrous roots that branch out. The plant reseeds itself, which is how it spreads and forms colonies.

The daisy fleabane prefers full sun, dry conditions, and alkaline soil. It prefers gravel or clay, but it can adapt to fertile loam if it doesn’t have too much competition. When it finishes blooming, it is slow to wither as it releases its seeds. It is commonly found in prairies, limestone glades, dry savannas, clay banks, and other locations.

Aster

The aster weed is another weed that looks like the daisy, but it comes in other colors. It is an annual or a biennial, and it is short lived. It has strong, smooth stems that are reddish, and they have branches closer to the top. The leaves clasp the stems, and they have pointed tips and are smooth.

The aster weed has quite a few flower heads, and the ray florets are white, pink, or blue with central disks. There are around 180 different types of aster, but only a few are considered weeds that will take over the landscape. They can grow up to four feet tall, and they usually grow in clumps.

They exist throughout most of North America, Central America, and parts of South America, as well as parts of Australia. They can grow in most climates and soil conditions, but they prefer wet soil without good drainage. You will most commonly find it in fields, orchards, on the side of roads, and in waste areas.

Some varieties reproduce with seeds alone, while others do it with seeds and rhizomes. The roots are shallow and fibrous, but they grow deeper if they are allowed to grow long enough. They can bloom at any time of the year, but they most commonly bloom from late summer to early fall. They can produce fruit, which ranges from light brown to dark brown. The fruit contains a seed, and it can spread quickly.

Chamomile

Chamomile, especially mayweed chamomile, is also called dog fennel, and it is an annual broadleaf plant that looks like daisies. It is found in coastal dunes, chaparral, woodlands, crop fields, orchards, vineyards, and other areas where it can grow. It grows throughout Canada and the United States, and it is known for its medicinal properties.

The flowers resemble daisies, with white petals that circle a yellow central disk. They normally bloom between May and October. The leaves of the German variety resemble fern leaves, and they are light green and feathered. Roman chamomile have leaves similar to parsley leaves that are flatter and thicker. They can grow up to three feet tall.

The German chamomile grows well in clay soil, while the Roman chamomile does well in somewhat fertile, well-drained soil. They both prefer full sun, but the Roman variety doesn’t tolerate hot weather that is dry. The German version can also grow in partial shade.

The leaves and flowers are edible, and they taste like apples. They can be used in a salad or in tea. They are most known for helping people relax and calming their nerves when they are going to bed. It differs from daisies because the flowers are smaller.

Capeweed

Capeweed is a weed that is known as ground cover. It is invasive in North America, and it spreads when it grows and establishes runners. It is fast spreading, and it has grayish-green leaves with bright yellow daisy-like flowers. They prefer coastal prairie and coastal scrub environments, as well as agricultural farms, pastures, vineyards, and along roadways.

It grows so fast that it can eliminate native plants and prevent them from growing. It can also expand to surrounding areas. When there is an infestation, it can cover 100% of the land, and this impacts the nutrient levels in the soil as well as the moisture.

When it covers the ground, it can be nice to look at, but when it does take off in the summer, the ground will be bare. It germinates in the fall and the winter, so it blooms in the spring and dies off in the summer. It is different from daisies because it forms a blanket with 100% coverage.

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