Chrysanthemum leucanthemum vulgare, Oxeye Daisy
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Herbaceous

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum vulgare

Oxeye Daisy

AsteraceaeEurope, temperate Asia

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height12-36 inches (30-90 cm)
Width12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Maintenancehigh

Overview

Leucanthemum vulgare (syn. Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) reaching 12–36 inches (30–90 cm) tall with a 12–24 inch (30–60 cm) spread. Basal leaves are spatulate, 2–5 inches (5–13 cm) long, with crenate (rounded-toothed) margins on long petioles. Stem leaves are progressively smaller upward, oblong, sessile, clasping, with coarse irregular teeth. Stems are erect, usually unbranched, smooth to sparsely hairy. Flower heads are solitary at the stem tips, 1.5–2.5 inches (4–6 cm) in diameter, with 20–30 white ray florets surrounding a flat to slightly domed yellow disc. Each head produces 200–500 seeds lacking a pappus. Plants spread by shallow, creeping rhizomes and by seed. A single plant produces 1,300–4,000 seeds annually, and dense stands produce up to 26,000 seeds per square yard (31,000 per square meter). Listed as a noxious weed in multiple U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Dense colonies form in pastures, meadows, and roadsides, displacing native grasses and reducing forage quality. Rhizome fragments as small as 0.5 inch (1 cm) regenerate.

Native Range

Native to Europe and temperate Asia, occurring in meadows, grasslands, and roadsides from sea level to approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m). Introduced to North America as an ornamental and in contaminated seed, now naturalized across most of the United States and Canada. Classified as a noxious weed in several western and midwestern states.

Suggested Uses

Used in noxious weed identification training and rangeland management curricula. Studied in meadow ecology and invasion biology. In its native European range, the species is a component of traditional hay meadow communities. Flower heads are used in wildflower identification exercises for Asteraceae ray/disc morphology.

How to Identify

Distinguished from Leucanthemum x superbum (Shasta daisy) by smaller flower heads 1.5–2.5 inches (4–6 cm) across versus 3–4 inches (8–10 cm), and by single-stemmed flowering stalks from spreading rhizomes rather than clumping basal crowns. Basal leaves are spatulate with rounded teeth on long petioles; stem leaves are sessile and clasping. Distinguished from Anthemis cotula (stinking chamomile) by the flat yellow disc (versus conical), entire rather than finely dissected leaves, and absence of pungent odor.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

white
yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks
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SpringSummer
Flowers from May through August, with peak bloom in June and July in temperate climates. Individual flower heads remain open for 10–14 days. Flowering progresses from the primary terminal head to lateral branches over 4–6 weeks. In the Pacific Northwest, peak bloom occurs in June. Mowing delays but does not prevent flowering, as plants rebloom from lateral buds. Pollinated by bees, flies, and beetles.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White rays with yellow disc

Foliage Description

Dark green; basal leaves spatulate with crenate margins on long petioles; stem leaves oblong, sessile, clasping, with irregular teeth

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysandsilt
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Classified as a noxious weed in several U.S. states; management focuses on reducing rhizome spread and seed production. Hand-pulling is effective in small infestations if all rhizome fragments are removed; fragments left in soil regenerate within 2–3 weeks. Mowing before seed maturity reduces seed production but does not eliminate rhizome-based spread. Repeated mowing 3–4 times per season for 2–3 years weakens rhizomes in some populations. Dense stands in pastures reduce forage availability and are avoided by cattle due to the acrid taste of the foliage. Revegetation with competitive perennial grasses after removal limits re-establishment from the soil seed bank.

Pruning

No pruning applicable in a horticultural sense. Cutting flowering stems to the basal rosette before seed set reduces dispersal. Plants resprout from rhizomes after cutting and may produce a second flowering flush. In managed meadow or pasture settings, mowing to 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) at early bloom stage prevents seed maturation.

Pruning Schedule

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Maintenance Level

high

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic