Shasta daisy

Leucanthemum x superbum · Daisy family (Asteraceae)

At a glance
Hardiness zones	5 to 9
Sun	full sun to part shade
Water	moderate
Life cycle	perennial
Frost	Hardy: takes frost
Spacing	12 to 36 inches

About Shasta daisy

Shasta daisies are the classic white-and-yellow summer daisy, bred by Luther Burbank in Santa Rosa, California, in the 1890s and named for the snowy peak of Mount Shasta. They are great cut flowers and draw bees and butterflies. They are often short-lived, mostly because they rot in wet winter soil, so give them good drainage. Their weedy cousin oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is a noxious weed in Washington and other states; don't plant it by mistake.

Hardy in zones 5-9; in central and south Florida summer heat kills it, so it is grown as an annual there (UF/IFAS).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Plant in spring or fall and divide every 2-3 years to keep clumps vigorous (NC State). Heavy, wet winter soil, not cold, killed most plants in Chicago's trial, so a raised or well-drained spot matters most.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil; plants rot and die over winter in heavy, wet clay (Chicago Botanic Garden, NC State).

Follow a soil test; loosen the bed 8-10 inches deep and work in compost, and make sure it drains well (Clemson; Chicago Botanic Garden).

Feeding

early spring, before new growth starts: slow-release complete fertilizer such as 12-6-6. Scatter 1-2 lb per 100 sq ft and water it in (Clemson).

Wet, heavy winter soil kills more Shasta daisies than cold (Chicago Botanic Garden).

Harvest

Blooms from June into September. Deadhead regularly for more flowers and to limit self-seeding (UF/IFAS; Chicago Botanic Garden). Cut for vases when flowers are open.

Varieties (21)

Variety	Type	Notes
Sunnyside Up	Crested	36 in plants.
T.E. Killin	Crested	24 in plants with a raised, crested center.
Wirral Pride	Crested	36 in plants.
Real Glory	Frilly	Frilly, ribbon-like petals.
Aglaia	Frilly double	Double flowers on 34 in plants.
Crazy Daisy	Frilly double	Frilly, ribbon-like petals.
Snowdrift	Frilly double	Double flowers on 34 in plants with excellent bloom.
Alaska	Single	An old, widely sold single on 40 in plants.
Amelia	Single	The largest flowers in the trial, about 5 in across, on 40 in plants.
Becky	Single	Single white daisies on uniform 40 in plants; excellent resistance to Phytophthora root rot.
Hebron Hardy	Single	34 in plants.
Nordlicht	Single	30 in plants.
Rijnsburg Glory	Single	28 in plants with heavy early bloom; spreads by rhizomes.
Supra	Single	39 in plants.
Switzerland	Single	Uniform plants about 32 in tall with heavy bloom.
White Knight	Single	24 in plants that always started blooming in early June.
Exhibition	Single to semi-double	36 in plants.
Daisy May	Single, compact	1-2 ft plants that bloom spring to fall.
Snow Lady	Single, dwarf	Dwarf plants 9-26 in tall.
Snowcap	Single, dwarf	Compact plants 12-20 in tall.
Tinkerbelle	Single, dwarf	16 in plants with heavy bloom.

Pests to watch for

Aphids, Leafminers, Twospotted spider mite, Slugs, Four-lined plant bug

Diseases and problems

Phytophthora root rot, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium wilt

In the kitchen

Safety: Mildly toxic if eaten: it can cause drooling, mouth irritation, vomiting and diarrhea, and handling it can irritate skin (NC State).

Pets: Not listed by name by the ASPCA, but its 'Daisy' entry (Chrysanthemum species, a close relative) is toxic to dogs and cats; NC State says Shasta daisy can cause drooling, mouth irritation, vomiting and diarrhea, and lists it as a problem for cats and dogs.

Sources

Photo: Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0). Photo resized for the web.

Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.