Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum
Shasta Daisy blooms from June through August.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Shasta Daisy
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Expect it to reach about 2.6 ft tall and 1.6 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Shasta Daisy
Plant Shasta Daisy in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 5 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means September or October. Once settled, it blooms from June to August.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 7 in March.
Comes in 6 varieties across 2 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Shasta Daisy
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Not a clean non-toxic plant: the related oxeye daisy carries only a low rating for contact dermatitis from its sesquiterpene lactones. Best treated as a mild irritant. per NC State
Worth knowing
Winter wet, more than cold, is what kills this plant. Sharp drainage decides winter survival, its short life, and whether crown rot takes hold, all at once. per NC State
Is it toxic to pets?
ASPCA flags 'Daisy' as toxic, but that entry is florist mums (Chrysanthemum), a different genus. Shasta daisy shares the same compounds far weaker, so it stays a mild irritant. per ASPCA and NC State
Short-lived: divide to renew
A classic short-lived perennial that fades within about 10 years. Lift and divide the clump every 2 to 3 years in early spring to renew its vigor. per Iowa State
Draws butterflies
The open, nectar-accessible daisy heads draw butterflies and other pollinators, earning it a place in butterfly-garden plantings. per NC State
Excellent cut flower
An excellent cut flower and an old-fashioned border favorite, equally at home in the vase and the perennial border. per NC State and UGA
Deadhead and cut back
Deadhead spent flowers all summer to keep blooms coming; Illinois also cuts plants down in mid September to push fresh growth and lengthen the plant's life. per University of Illinois
What pairs well with Shasta Daisy
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; both offer pollinator forage.
Aster
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall as this one finishes; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Rock Cress
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 4 in, for the front of the border.
Flowering Crabapple
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; stands well above at 20 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Lilac
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; taller at 9.8 ft, for the layer behind it; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Autumn Crocus
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall as this one finishes; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Viburnum
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
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