Bellis Perennis – a great little flower

Last year, I grew Bellis Perennis. It started flowering in March (it usually starts in February but it was late due to the really bad weather we had then) and is just now starting to look as though it is past its best.

Bellis Perennis is a really cheerful flower. Very easy to grow and really long lasting. Worth the price and the room it takes up. It is only 6 inches tall, so you need to plant it in the front of your border. Some varieties look like a daisy although the popular variety this year (Tasso) looks, I thing, like a very, very small Chrysanthemum.It is white with red edges to its flowers.

I grow my Bellis Perennis from seed. Just chuck the seed in  and it will grow. Actually, I grow it in seed trays now and plant out in autumn. However, there is no reason why you can’t sow them in a nursery bed and plant them out when you have room or even  sow  them in situ. If  you do sow them outside, they will need watering regularly, particularly this year when it is so dry.

If you are not confident enough, or have enough time, or simply can’t be bothered to mess around sowing seed. Then Gardening Direct are selling plug plants of two different types of Bellis Perrenis for just under £9 a set. This means 42 medium plug plants or 24 large plug plants. That means you have loads to spread around your garden (or, if you prefer share  with family and friends).

A plug plant is a small plant which has been grown so that it has a good root system. They are sent through the post in trays which hold individual plants. You just push the plants out from the bottom and plant them. Small plug plants are better if you put them in 3 inch pots and protect them for a few weeks so that you have larger plants when you put them in the garden.  However, the larger plug plants can by planted straight into your garden.

Large plug plants are 4 inches high when you get them whilst medium plugs are 3 inches tall. Gardening Direct also  sell  small plug plants which are only 2 inches high but not in Bellis Perennis plants.

As I said, I think Bellis Perennis is well worth the room in your garden, not least because it is such a bright splash ot colour so early in the year when there are very few flowers around.