Shasta daisy

Shasta daisy: how do you recognise it?

Habit

An upright clump up to 80 cm tall and 60 cm wide, with sturdy, mostly unbranched flower stems.

Leaves

Long, toothed, dark green and glossy, in a rosette that often stays green in winter.

Flower

Large daisies up to about 10 cm across, single or double, with white rays around a yellow centre.

Flowering

From June to September, with a second flush if you cut back after the first.

Roots

Fibrous roots; the clump grows outwards and goes bare in the middle.

Flowering: June–September · Sowing: March–April · Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March and July–August

Why grow it?

• A long flowering season from June to September, especially if you deadhead.
• One of the best cut flowers from the garden: long stems and a long vase life.
• Bees, hoverflies and butterflies find nectar and pollen in the yellow centre.
• The white brings light to the border and goes with every colour.
• Quick and easy to propagate by dividing the clump.

Shasta daisy: where does it grow best?

• Full sun: in shade the stems become long and floppy.
• Fertile, well-drained sandy, loamy or clay soil; acid, neutral or chalky.
• Normally moist: not too dry in summer and not too wet in winter.
• In the middle of a sunny border or in a cutting garden.
• Allow 45–60 cm between plants.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.8 m tall, 0.6 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Delphinium: Blue spikes beside the white daisies: a classic summer pairing.
• Hardy geranium: A soft, low filler at the front of the border.
• Catmint: A blue cloud that flowers at the same time.
• Sage: Purple spikes as a contrast to the white and yellow.
• Phlox: Scented pink or mauve heads that keep it company later in summer.

Shasta daisy: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant in March–May or in September–October.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and mix in compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot: the heart of the rosette must not end up below the soil.
4. Space plants 45–60 cm apart.
5. Water well straight away and in dry spells for the first weeks.
6. Mulch with compost, but keep the rosette clear.

Care

Watering

In dry spells, especially while flowering. Better a good soak once than a little every day.

Feeding

A layer of compost or a little organic fertiliser in spring.

Deadheading

Remove spent flowers every week back to a leaf or side bud: that keeps it flowering into September.

Support

Tall varieties can fall over after rain; a support ring put in place in May helps.

Dividing

Every three years in spring, or the clump goes bare in the middle and flowers less.

Tip: Deadhead every week: that keeps it flowering from June into September. Divide the clump every three years in spring, or it goes bare in the middle.

Shasta daisy: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July–August.

When: Deadhead through the summer, cut back after the first flush in July–August, and clear the old stems in March.

How:

• Cut faded flowers off with their stem back to a leaf or side bud.
• When most flowers are over, cut all flower stems back to the leaf rosette: a second flush often follows.
• In March, remove the old stems and dead leaves just above the rosette.
• For the vase, cut when the flowers have just fully opened.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

Every three years in March–April. Lift the clump, discard the old centre and replant young pieces from the edge.

Seed

Sow indoors in March–April, barely covered. Named varieties do not always come true from seed, and seedlings often only flower in their second year.

Cuttings

In spring, take basal cuttings from young shoots and root them in sandy compost.

Shasta daisy: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Hardy to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• The leaf rosette often stays green in winter; do not smother it with wet leaves.
• It dislikes heavy, wet soil in winter: the rosette then rots.

Diseases and pests

• Slugs: They love the young leaves and buds. Pick them off in the evening and keep the rosette clear of wet leaves.
• Aphids: Black aphids on the stems and buds. Wash them off with water; ladybirds help.
• Bare centre: Old clumps die out in the middle and flower less. Divide every three years.
• Winter losses: In heavy, wet soil the rosette rots in winter. Improve drainage with coarse sand.

Through the year

• March: Clear old stems. Divide. Sow indoors.
• April: Plant. Add compost. Sow indoors.
• May: Plant. Put in a support ring. Watch for slugs.
• June: Flowering begins. Cut flowers for the vase.
• July: Deadhead. Water in dry spells.
• August: After the first flush, cut back to the rosette for a second flowering.
• September: Second flush. Plant.
• October: Plant.
• November: Keep the rosette clear of wet leaves.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Butterflies

Nectar for butterflies.

Did you know?

• It was bred by the American plant breeder Luther Burbank. Its name refers to the snowy summit of Mount Shasta in California.
• The ‘marguerite’ sold as a pot plant is a different plant, which is not hardy.
• Each ‘flower’ is really a flower head: the white ‘petals’ are ray florets and the yellow centre is made up of hundreds of tiny disc florets.