Why are dandelions considered weeds when daisies are considered flowers?

Answer 1

Lawns aside, most restoration ecologist (like myself), wildlife biologists, and riparian and wetland scientists consider dandelions to be weeds because of their effects on habitat.

They are a non-native plant (assuming you are in North America) that can thrive in appropriate habitats to the exclusion of native vegetation. They are not as beneficial to wildlife as native vegetation and will crowd out threatened or endangered species.

Non-native weeds are responsible for a large part of habitat loss around the world. Habitat loss is responsible for most of the loss of biodiversity.

Also, some daises are considered weeds. Ox-eye daisy is a prominent killer of many native plants in mountain habitats.

Answer 2

Dandelions are wonderful!
Delicious wine - you can eat the leaves and even the roots..
Oh, you can also eat the daisies
But weeds.. many because not many know what to do with amymore.. very few are that in tune with mother nature, and the ways of olde.

Susun Weed has a book for women, regarding the usage of dandelions, and other...weeds

http://www.ashtreepublishing.com/#5

Answer 3

Dandelions are considered weeds by people who want lush immaculate lawns. Dandelions reproduce quickly and spread randomly. The people who make lawn fertilizers,weed-n-feed, and herbicides encourage this image of the dandelion as a pest.

But dandelions are favorite flowers of small children. And the leaves are highly nutritious. You can also fry the blooms and eat them.

Answer 4

Despite being pretty & a favorite amongst children, dandelions reproduce quickly, spread randomly & if left unchecked can take over an entire lawn. Regular flowers don't seem to do that.

Also it's cause as the leaves grow outward they push down the surrounding vegetation, such as grass in a lawn, killing the vegetation by cutting off the sunlight.

Answer 5

This is probably due to social norms and societal attitudes more than anything else. One possibility is that dandelions have the thick, leafy outgrowths that don't look as 'pretty', and they're also more plentiful and harder to get rid of. The funny thing is that dandelions are actually more useful than daisies. There's actually dandelion wine:

Dandelion wine does not require any special equipment to make. Just dandelions, some sugar and yeast, oranges and lemons, and pots to boil water in. This recipe uses cloves, which I think give it a nice touch. If you have dandelions around, give it a try!
1 package dried yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 quarts dandelion blossoms
4 quarts water
1 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
8 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped orange peel
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped lemon peel
6 cups sugar
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Set aside.
Wash the dandelion blossoms well. Put them in the water with the orange, lemon and lime juices. Add the cloves, ginger, orange and lemon peel, and sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for an hour. Strain through filter paper (coffee filters work great). Cool. While still warm (but not hot), stir in the yeast.

Let stand overnight and pour into bottles. Allow uncorked bottles to set in a darkened place for three weeks. Then cork and store bottles in a cool place. Makes about 4 quarts.

Taken from (http://www.texascooking.com/recipes/dandelionwine.htm)
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They also have other uses:

Dandelions botanical name Taraxacum, indicates medicinal benefits. Taraxos means disorder, and akos means remedy.

Mature female cattail flowers are traditionally mashed and formulated into a salve for cuts and burns. The Chinese value cattail pollen for its astringent and styptic properties; they use it in the treatment of dysentery.

In Tom Brown's field guide to Wilderness survival, Brown reports rubbing the sticky juice found between cattail leaves on his gums at the dentist's as a Novocain substitute. He also recommends the practice for pain relief from tooth-ache.

Since ancient times this plant has been used for treating many ailments. The roots provide remedial treatment for ailments such as liver troubles, gastritis, kidney disease, inflammation of the gall bladder and dyspepsia. Tea or tinctures made from the roots are helpful for hepatitis, anemia, jaundice, cirrhosis, and gall stones. Has diuretic properties that can help to promote elimination of excess fluids and toxins. There are many benefits for the liver. The plant lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol. It lessens premenstrual syndrome and promotes clear skin. Dandelions are alkalizing which makes them ideal for the treatment of chronic constipation. The milky white juice from the stems was a common folk remedy for warts.

Taken from (http://www.naturesgarden.ca/dandelion_med.htm)

I'm not sure what daisies can be used for.

Answer 6

A weed is any plant that grows where you don't want it to grow. Some garden plants are considered weeds when they escape to the wild. Dandelions invade your lawn and mess up the pretty little monoculture of grass growing there so they are considered weeds.

Answer 7

cause they spread too much.

actually some people consider daisies as weed as well! (in lawns)

my parakeets consider both of them yummy treats. i dont want dandelions spread too much in my garden, because indeed i want room for other veggies and flowers as well. since i feed them to my pets, they cant get out of the limit!

Answer 8

I've always wondered the same thing! Why did dandelions get such a bad rap? I used to pick dandelions for my mother, and give her a bouquet of them. Now my daughter does the same for me!

Answer 9

It is in the leaf that makes the difference.