There’s nothing pretentious about daisies. You’ve loved these cheerful, common flowers since you learned to draw them in kindergarten. Perhaps it’s because daisies grow in crayon colors: yellow centers ringed with white petals on plain green stems.
I. Appearance and CharacteristicsÂ
Leucanthemum × superbum, the Shasta daisy, is a commonly grown flowering herbaceous perennial plant with the classic daisy appearance of white petals (ray florets) around a yellow disc, similar to the oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Lam, but larger.
It originated as a hybrid produced in 1890 by the American horticulturist Luther Burbank from a number of daisies. First, he crossed Leucanthemum vulgare with Leucanthemum maximum; this double hybrid was itself crossed with Leucanthemum lacustre. The resulting Leucanthemum triple hybrid was crossed with Nipponanthemum nipponicum, creating an intergeneric cross of species from three continents. It was named after Mount Shasta, because its petals were the color of the snow. Some members of the genus are considered noxious weeds, but the Shasta daisy remains a favorite garden plant.
Shasta daisies won’t attract the deer wandering through but will draw in butterflies when bursting with blooms in spring and summer. Shasta daisies are tough and tolerant but prefer well-drained soil and require full sun (at least six hours). Daisies can grow quite tall once established and are generally best planted in the back of the border. Shasta daisies like to self-sow, so deadheading flowers can help prevent spreading and becoming invasive. These flowers are toxic to pets.
II. How to Grow and Care
Shasta daisies are quite hardy and do not require much attention once established. They can be grown in both full sun or partial shade and can tolerate varying soil conditions, as long as it is well-draining. They are deer-resistant, drought-resistant, and do not often struggle with many pests or diseases.Â
Shasta daisies are short-lived perennials. This means that they only live for a few years. To keep Shasta daisy plants on display year after year, introduce additional plants into the garden bed on a yearly basis.
Sunlight
These perennials love sunshine and thrive in full sun settings. However, Shasta daisy varieties adapt well to areas of partial sun and can tolerate a bit of shade. Keep in mind that plants grown in full sun will produce more blooms.
Temperature and Humidity
Shasta daisies are very hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels. They can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9. However, they do not handle extremely humid areas, since this can contribute to overly wet soil conditions that may cause rot.
Watering
Shasta daisies enjoy moist conditions, as long as the soil is well-drained. Because they are sensitive to soggy soil and overwatering, it is best to err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering. Once established, Shasta daisies are considered drought-tolerant for short periods of time. Provide these daisies with about an inch of water every week to keep them healthy and hydrated. Â
Soil
Keep soil moderately rich and fertile so that these flowers bloom. Shasta Daisies are not too particular about soil conditions, as they can survive in rich soil or soil with organic matter or compost. Soil should be well-drained because these flowers do not tolerate soggy soil.
Fertilizing
Because Shasta daisies prefer rich, fertile soil, it can be beneficial to add fertilizer to these plants every year. Compost or other organic material is a great way to fertilize shasta daisies. Add it in the spring to provide these plants with a boost of nutrients heading into the blooming season. Alternatively, you can apply a well-balanced fertilizer on a monthly basis throughout the summer.Â
Planting Instructions
Pruning
Deadhead your daisies to encourage continuous blooming. You can even shear the long flower stems for a bushier, more floriferous plant—water once a week during hot, dry spells. Tackle any pests with an intense burst of water from a garden hose or insecticidal soap. After the first frost and the foliage dies back, use pruning shears to cut Shasta Daisies back two or three inches above the soil. Remove dying branches.
To protect the roots, add mulch around the plant’s crowns to preserve it through its winter dormancy. If you choose, leave seed heads on stems to attract birds to your garden in the fall and winter.
Propagation
Division
The best form of propagation for these plants is division. This will not only produce more plants, but will help increase the lifespan of Shasta daisies. Ideally, it is best to divide the plant every two years or so in the spring or early fall after the daisies have finished blooming. To divide Shasta daisies you will need gloves, a large shovel, a hand shovel, and a sharp pair of garden snips.
- Using the large shovel, gently loosen the soil around the whole plant, going in a circle until the root system is loosened.
- Once the roots can be lifted from the ground, remove the entire plant.Â
- Using the shovels and the snips, divide the plant by cutting through the root system. Be sure each division has healthy roots and foliage.Â
- Plant the daisy back into the ground.Â
- Move each division to its own location, preparing the soil first by adding compost.
Seed
To grow from seed, sow the seeds indoors eight weeks before the final spring frost. Barely cover with seed-starting mix and keep moist at around 70°F. The seedlings will emerge in two to three weeks, at which point they should be placed under plant lights or in a sunny window. Harden off seedlings before transplanting them outdoors by first placing them in the shade and gradually exposing them to more sunlight. Bring Shasta Daisies indoors any time there is a danger of frost.
Transplant Shasta Daisies into the garden in spring or fall. Autumn planting has the advantage of establishing root systems before flowering. Each four-inch transplant you set out in the fall will produce, at a fraction of the cost, roughly the same amount of blooms as a one-gallon plant purchased in the spring. But don’t fret if you waited until spring to go daisy crazy—plants continue to grow all year. Plant the root ball level with the surrounding soil, mulch lightly, and water thoroughly at least once a week until your daisies establish. By next spring, your daisies will tolerate occasional dry spells.
Potting and RepottingÂ
With such a variety of cultivators available, it is important to know that the mature size of each cultivator is vastly different. Some dwarf varieties stay under a foot tall, making them perfect for small pots, such as on an outdoor table. Others reach up to four feet tall and must be kept in large containers. Be sure to choose a pot appropriate for your daisy’s mature size. Daisies must be grown in pots with drainage holes, as soggy soil can cause rot. Once a proper pot is selected, fill it with rich, fertile soil.
Potted daisies enjoy compost or fertilizer and regular watering, as these plants do not have access to underground nutrients or water sources. Place the pot in a sunny or slightly shaded area and keep the soil slightly moist. If the daisy outgrows the pot, gently loosen the roots from the pot and divide the plant.Â
Overwintering
Bed down Shastas for winter by tucking mulch around each plant, taking care not to cover leaves. The rosettes of foliage stay green year-round in much of the South. Some selections are known for their tolerance for icy weather and produce flowers nonstop for at least a month in the spring and sporadically until cold weather returns. No matter how much the temperatures drop during the winter, Shasta Daisies will reward you with bright bouquets filled with heart-warming blooms.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
While Shasta Daisies are low-maintenance compared to other plants, these cheerful flowers are still susceptible to some diseases and pests. Some pest problems include aphids, slugs, and earwigs. Leaf spots and Chrysanthemum nematodes also impact Shasta Daisies. Chrysanthemum nematode is a foliar pest found in the plant’s stem and leaves, causing leaves to turn yellow and brown and drop when infected.
Common ProblemsÂ
Curling Leaves
Shasta Daisies might experience curling leaves because of wilt or rot. Areas that experience humid, hot, wet conditions leave Shasta Daisies susceptible to root rot. If you notice your plant’s leaves curling, remove any diseased foliage and cut away the infected roots. The soil should be well-draining to prevent this from happening.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Fungus, including acremonium and verticillium wilt, can impact Shasta Daisies, causing leaves to first turn yellow, then droop, and drop as the disease spreads throughout the plant. Verticillium wilt occurs when the temperatures are colder, while acremonium is usually visible on one side of the plant. Discard diseased stems and roots and maintain proper sun and watering schedules to prevent the disease from spreading.
III. How to Get Shasta Daisy Plants to Bloom
Shasta daisy flowers can reach anywhere from nine inches to four feet in height with each bloom spanning several inches. Like other daisy varieties, they have an iconic flower shape with a bright yellow center and long, white petals. These perennials bloom during the summer months for several years.
To encourage abundant blooming, be sure to deadhead spent blooms throughout the growing season. This will encourage the plant to produce more flowers. Because Shasta daisies are short-lived perennials, it is best to plant additional daisies each year to keep the daisy patch full and blooming. This prevents any lulls in blooming as the older plants fade away.
