Leucanthemum: Shasta Daisy
Daisies are classic flowers in our culture and vocabulary. The white petals and yellow center of Shasta daisies inspired the typical daisy image, and they have been cultivated in gardens for at least a century.
Plant care & info
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Leucanthemum
Common Name: Shasta daisy, Ox-Eye daisy
Widely distributed in Europe and Northern Asia. There are 33 species in the genus.
Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil and full to part sun (at least five hours of direct sun). Double varieties appreciate shade from the intense sun.
Shasta daisy is low-maintenance and easy to grow. Shasta daisies should be divided every two to three years to avoid overcrowding of the crowns.
Some staking may be needed with taller varieties. Pinch back once or twice in April or May for sturdier (but smaller flowered) plants.
Dead head the first flush of flowers to encourage a second bloom. Tall varieties can be pinched back in April to avoid the need to stake plants later in the season.
Fertilize in spring with an all-purpose granular food. Cut plants down to the green basal growth in fall after flowers have faded.
Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Great cut flower. Deer resistant.
Potential pests include aphids, slugs and earwigs. Powdery mildew may also occur on foliage, but Shasta Daisies are generally trouble free.
Leucanthemum vulgare, or Oxeye daisy, moved here from Europe and Asia, and has rooted itself along road sides and fields throughout the continental U.S. In the early 1900s, Luther Burbank hybridized Leucanthemum maximum and Leucanthemum lanustre to create the classic Leucanthemum x superbum, or Shasta daisy (named after Mt. Shasta).
Different varieties bloom at different times of the year. Early varieties generally bloom May through June, whereas mid and late varieties start in June and bloom into July or August. Many kinds can re-bloom in fall.
Over the years, hybridizers have developed varieties that grow to different heights, have different flower configurations, yellow petals, or reduced odor (this is a good thing). These flowers are perfect for bouquets, flower crowns, billowing cottage gardens, and perennial borders. They also attract a significant number of pollinators! They pair wonderfully with Foxglove, Delphinium, Daylilies, Nepeta and ornamental grasses.
