In the depths of winter, when options for flowering plants are reduced to a minimum, there is a humble species that comes to the rescue with its striking colours. The bellis, meadow daisy or chirivita (Bellis perennis), stands out precisely for that, for offering flowers during the cold months with hardly anything in return.
The bellis is one of those plants that tends to pass unnoticed in garden centres, because it isn’t always produced en masse nor associated with huge, spectacular displays.
However, its greatest value lies in the moment it flowers. It is a plant clearly associated with winter, when temperatures are low and few species dare to keep flowering.
During the cold months, the bellis stays active and full of tiny flowers, which can be several colours depending on the varieties, white, pink or red being the most common. In fact, if the weather remains sufficiently cool, it can bloom during all four seasons!
Characteristics of the bellis or meadow daisy
Bellis perennis is an annual plant, that is, it completes its entire life cycle (germination, growth, flowering, seed production and death) in a single year or growing season, and the seeds dry up at the end of the season.
If you want to enjoy its flowers in winter and you plan to sow it yourself, you should sow it from late summer to early autumn (August–October), or even from late autumn to early winter (November–January), as they need a spell of cold to germinate properly and to develop their roots.
Cold resistance and minimal watering, the key to its success
One of the most important characteristics of bellis is its strong frost resistance, something not shared by all daisies. It is a plant perfectly adapted to harsh climates, able to withstand low temperatures without issue. Precisely because of that adaptation, its biggest enemy is not the frost, but overwatering.
Watering should be very moderate, almost non-existent during winter. Bellis relies largely on ambient moisture and the season’s rainfall. When overwatered or when the substrate becomes waterlogged, rot appears, especially botrytis, which can quickly ruin the plant.
A versatile plant for pots, borders and the garden
Bellis is very versatile in terms of placement. It can be grown successfully in a pot, where it spreads and fills the container with flowers, bringing colour to terraces, patios and balconies in the dullest months of the year.
In the garden, its use is particularly interesting for borders, bedding schemes and the front of rockeries. It isn’t a tall plant, but rather low and sprawling, so it’s best placed where it won’t be crowded by shrubs or other larger species.
From the meadows to the garden, a plant with wild origins
The typical daisy is the one you usually pluck petals on to see whether your crush loves you, which can take a while. But beyond the archetypal daisy, which tends to be white, red or pink, there are ornamental varieties with many compact petals that resemble small pom-poms. These varieties are often more resistant.
They also retain that rustic character that makes them so easy to care for. It is a plant that doesn’t require constant attention and adapts well to the soil, especially when planted directly in ground.
Bellis indoors, basic care
Although bellis is primarily an outdoor plant, it can be kept indoors for a time if the right conditions are provided. The most important thing is to place it in a very bright space, ideally near a window where it receives plenty of natural light, but away from direct heat from radiators or stoves.
The watering should be very moderate. It is advisable to let the potting mix dry slightly between waterings to avoid rot. It is essential that the pot has good drainage.
In cool, well-ventilated interiors, bellis can keep its flowers through winter, but as temperatures rise or light declines, it is advisable to move it outside so it can continue its natural cycle.
A great ally for gardens with year-round flowering
Bellis is particularly interesting when combined with other outdoor plants that flower at different times of the year. In rockeries or well-designed borders, it can be integrated with summer- or autumn-flowering species, also playing with different leaf textures and colours.
If you want to introduce bellis into your home or garden, start slowly. Plant several together in a sunny border or in a large pot with good drainage.
Water it just enough, observe how it responds to the weather and let it do what it does best, flower when almost no one else does. It’s an easy way to make peace with a winter garden without adding extra work.
