A daisy is a cheerful wildflower with white petals arranged in a circle around a yellow center, though some varieties come in pink or other colors. Daisies grow wild in fields and lawns across much of the world, popping up so reliably that they've become symbols of simplicity and innocence.

The flower's name comes from “day's eye” because daisies close their petals at night and open them again each morning when the sun rises. If you've ever made a daisy chain by splitting the stems and threading flowers together, you've taken part in a tradition children have enjoyed for centuries.

Daisies appear constantly in expressions and sayings. Something described as fresh as a daisy looks bright, clean, and energetic. When someone is “pushing up daisies,” that's a humorous (if slightly dark) way of saying they've died and been buried. The phrase oops-a-daisy (or upsy-daisy) is what people often say when helping someone up after a tumble.

In gardens, daisies are considered easy flowers to grow because they're hardy and don't need much fussing over. Their simple beauty has made them favorites in art, poetry, and decoration for thousands of years.