# straggler daisy (*Calyptocarpus vialis*) Straggler daisies are cheerful little flowers that often grow in groups. They have bright yellow petals and can be found blooming along sidewalks and in gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![straggler daisy](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Starr_031108-0218_Calyptocarpus_vialis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_031108-0218_Calyptocarpus_vialis.jpg) ## Appearance The straggler daisy is a low-growing plant with dark green, often heart-shaped leaves that spread along the ground. It has tiny, bright yellow, sunflower-like flowers with 4-8 short petals, emerging singly from leaf axils. Its small size and creeping habit make it blend easily into lawns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Calyptocarpus ## Interesting facts - It's sometimes called 'lawn flower' because it pops up so commonly in grassy areas! - Its tiny flowers open in the sunshine, looking like miniature versions of big sunflowers! - Straggler daisies are super tough and can even survive being mowed in your lawn. - The plant's scientific name 'vialis' means 'of roads,' reflecting where it often grows. ## Special abilities - **Carpet Creator:** Straggler daisy can quickly spread its stems to form a dense green mat, helping it cover ground and outcompete other plants. - **Endless Bloomer:** Straggler daisy has tiny yellow flowers that can bloom almost continuously, ensuring it always attracts pollinators and produces seeds. - **Seed Hitchhiker:** Straggler daisy seeds have tiny hooks that allow them to attach to fur or clothes, hitching rides to new locations. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits small yellow flowers for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Common hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — attracted to its simple flower structure for nectar - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — grazed by livestock in pastures ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers in parks to help them grow. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify straggler daisy? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is straggler daisy? 5-15 cm ### How wide does straggler daisy spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on straggler daisy? 0.5-1 cm ### When does straggler daisy bloom? Year-round ### Is straggler daisy edible? No ### Is straggler daisy toxic? None ### What is straggler daisy's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadmoor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadmoor) — Louisiana, US · Neighborhood - [Congress Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/congress-avenue-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District - [National Tropical Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-tropical-botanical-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Cameron Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cameron-park-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Alamo Plaza Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alamo-plaza-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District [View all places to see straggler daisy](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/straggler-daisy) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Straggler Daisy: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/straggler-daisy)