shasta daisy

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)

Full sun, medium moisture, well-drained loam; tolerates clay soils if drainage is adequate; pH 5.5–7.0.

2–3 feet tall by 2 feet wide; blooms late spring into summer (June–August in Middle Tennessee) with classic white daisy flowers and yellow centers on stiff upright stems; spreads by rhizome to slowly expand clumps; clumps decline in vigor after 3–4 years and benefit from division.

Divide every 3 years in early spring; discard the woody center of older clumps and replant vigorous outer sections.

Native region: Not native to Tennessee; Leucanthemum x superbum is a complex hybrid group developed by Luther Burbank, involving multiple Leucanthemum and Chrysanthemum species from Europe and Asia.

Shasta daisies are reliable in Middle Tennessee when drainage is adequate — standing water after heavy rain is the primary cause of crown rot during the humid summer months. Compact cultivars such as 'Becky' are better suited to the I-65 corridor than tall single-stemmed selections that flop after heavy summer rain. 'Becky' has demonstrated above-average heat and humidity tolerance for Zone 7 conditions. Deadheading extends bloom and prevents the weedy self-seeding common in older cultivars. Leucanthemum is attacked by aphids, thrips, and occasionally chrysanthemum leaf miner in high-humidity conditions; inspect the undersides of leaves if yellowing occurs during summer.