Meaning & use
Michaelmas daisy
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Meanings
nouncountableBritish
A garden plant of the aster family with clusters of small purple, pink or white flowers that bloom in early autumn.
Grammar: Countable: Michaelmas daisies grow in clumps.
Patterns
- a clump of Michaelmas daisies
The border was bright with Michaelmas daisies in late September.
Bees gathered on the Michaelmas daisy long after other flowers had faded.
She cut a few Michaelmas daisies for the kitchen table.
nouncountable
Any of several kinds of aster grown for their late flowers in a garden border.
Grammar: Informal garden usage that can cover several species.
The nursery sells dwarf Michaelmas daisies for small gardens.
Michaelmas daisies are tough plants that spread each year.
Word forms
| plural | Michaelmas daisies |
|---|
Common combinations
- clump of Michaelmas daisies
- A clump of Michaelmas daisies brightened the fence.
- Michaelmas daisy border
- The Michaelmas daisy border looked best in October.
- purple Michaelmas daisy
- A purple Michaelmas daisy stood out against the yellow leaves.
- plant Michaelmas daisies
- We planted Michaelmas daisies for late color.
- flowering Michaelmas daisy
- A flowering Michaelmas daisy attracted butterflies.
Synonyms and how they differ
- aster
- Aster is the general name for the whole plant group, whereas Michaelmas daisy usually names the common garden kind.
- New York aster
- New York aster is a particular type often sold as a Michaelmas daisy, so it is narrower in meaning.
Word family
Commonly confused: Michaelmas daisy or ox-eye daisy? Michaelmas daisy or Michaelmas?
Michaelmas daisy vs ox-eye daisy
Ox-eye daisy is a wildflower with white petals that blooms in early summer, while the Michaelmas daisy blooms in autumn.
Michaelmas daisy vs Michaelmas
Michaelmas is the autumn feast day itself, while Michaelmas daisy is the flower named for it.
Practice
A gardener who wants flowers in the border in late September and October would be wise to plant ____.
Choose one answer.
Michaelmas daisies bloom in early autumn. Snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils are tempting spring or late-winter flowers and would not bloom in autumn.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Michaelmas daisy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.