The daisy blooms of Leucanthemum are tirelessly cheerful, bringing sunny vibes on even the dullest days. This genus contains annuals and long-lived perennials including the wildflower, Ox Eye Daisy. The perennial cultivars have earned their place as traditional cottage garden favourites, better known as Shasta Daisies.

In summer, an abundance of upright stems are cloaked in glossy green foliage and topped with wide discs of cream or white petals, advertising a feast of nectar to passing pollinators. Leucanthemum flowers range from single to double or semi-double, some with an intriguing curled or frilled appearance. The longer-stemmed varieties make charming cut flowers, adding a touch of glamour to summer bouquets.

Leucanthemum are natural sun-lovers but will tolerate a little light shade, provided that the soil is moist and free draining. It’s best to avoid full shade, very wet or excessively dry conditions. These hardy plants make an elegant feature when planted in drifts through summer borders, rubbing shoulders with deep blue Salvias, Echinacea and Rudbeckias. Where space is limited simply plant them into patio pots for an uplifting summer display!

How to plant:

— Leucanthemum are supplied as bare roots in spring for planting between February and May. They must be planted soon after delivery as they do not survive for long without light and moisture. If you can't plant on the day of delivery, remove the roots from the packaging and place in a bowl of water outdoors to soak, then plant within a week.

— Leucanthemum are hardy to around -10C and don’t require and frost protection. It is not recommended to plant bare root Leucanthemum directly into a border as they can struggle to settle into garden soil as dormant bare roots. Additionally, there are various other factors which can cause them to fail when planted directly into borders. They should be potted up and positioned outside to grow on through spring, then transplanted to borders later in the season when they are more established.

— If your Shasta Daisy is intended for a border, pot up into a 15-20cm diameter temporary pot using multipurpose compost. Ensure the full root system is submerged below the soil surface. The buds at the top of the root system should be level with the soil surface after planting. If supplied later in spring, they may have some shoots/leaves which should be left exposed above the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting.

— Leucanthemum can also grow well in patio containers. You can plant directly into a 25-30cm+ diameter patio container filled with good quality multipurpose compost as described above for potting up.

— If potting up, grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors in their temporary pots during spring, this will give them an easy start and then they can be transferred into a border later in the season once the plant is more established with a stronger root system. The plant will be ready to transfer once roots begin to emerge from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot and when the plant easily comes out of the pot with the soil held together by the roots.

— When your Leucanthemum plants are ready to transfer into a border, choose a sunny spot on moist but free draining soil. Shasta Daisies can cope with a little light shade but avoid full shade, very wet or excessively dry conditions. Allow the compost in the pot to dry out slightly before removing from the pot, this will help prevent the soil from falling from the roots during transfer. Space the plants 30cm apart if planting a group. Add multipurpose compost to each planting hole to help the new roots grow.

— Keep a close eye on your new Leucanthemum for pest damage and keep space clear around the young plant, removing weeds and also excess growth from neighbouring plants to reduce competition. Ensure the soil remains slightly moist around new plants, particularly during the first growing season.

— This perennial is hardy and does not require winter protection in most areas. In very cold areas, it is recommended to apply mulch around young Leucanthemum to help protect them from severe weather during their first winter.

— When supplied in late spring, your Shasta Daisy bare root is likely to have sprouted shoots or leaves already which may be pale in colour. Plant with the shoots/leaves exposed above the soil surface, they will soon green up and continue to grow.

Aftercare

— Deadhead individual Leucanthemum blooms after flowering to encourage more to grow later in the season.

— Taller varieties of Shasta Daisy may require staking to prevent their stems flopping or being damaged by strong gusts of wind, particularly in exposed locations.

— In autumn, Leucanthemum will naturally die back, although some leaves may remain. Remove any last stems in autumn just above ground level, the plant will become dormant for winter. The following spring, new growth will start to emerge.

— Leucanthemum will produce leaves in the first year and often a small display of flowers. If they do not produce flowers in the first year, providing they have grown healthy foliage they will start flowering well in the second year.

— Leucanthemum is a clump-forming perennial which grows back larger and with more stems each year.

— You can divide established clumps between autumn and early spring when needed.

— Read further general instructions about planting bare-root perennials