Shasta daisies are the garden’s unassuming (and drought-resistant) crowd-pleasers. Garden designer Troy Rhone talks about the history of daisies, his favorite types of shasta daisies, plants that grow well with shasta daisies, and how to take care of daisies.
The Shasta daisy is a classic perennial flower that graces many gardens with its bright white petals and sunny yellow centers But did you know there are different cultivars of the Shasta daisy? The most popular is the ‘Becky’ daisy, which offers larger blooms and sturdier stems than the original species But what exactly is the difference between Becky daisy and Shasta daisy?
Shasta Daisy Overview
The Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a hybrid cross between the oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and the English daisy (Bellis perennis). It was first developed in the 1890s by an American lawyer and plantsman named Luther Burbank.
The Shasta daisy is known for its classic daisy shape, with white ray petals surrounding a bright yellow central disk. The flowers measure 2-4 inches across and are borne on long, slender stems. Shasta daisies bloom throughout the summer and make excellent cut flowers.
The Shasta daisy grows 1-3 feet tall and spreads 12-24 inches wide. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. This daisy is hardy in zones 4-9. While beautiful, one downside is the stems tend to flop over if not staked.
Introducing Becky Daisy
‘Becky’ is a cultivar of the Shasta daisy bred to have sturdier stems that don’t require staking. It was introduced in the early 1990s by plant breeder Keith Hammett in England.
In addition to stronger stems, ‘Becky’ offers:
- Larger flowers – blooms measure 3-4 inches across
- Longer bloom time – flowers from early summer to fall
- Grows taller – mature height is 36 inches
‘Becky’ has the same classic Shasta daisy look – white petals with yellow centers. It also has the same growing requirements and hardiness. But the increased size, longer bloom time, and upright stems make it an improvement over the species.
Becky vs Shasta Growing Habits
When comparing growing habits, Becky and Shasta daisies are quite similar:
- Hardiness – Both are hardy in zones 4-9
- Soil – They thrive in average, well-drained soil
- Sun – Require full sun for best flowering
- Size – Shasta 12-36 inches tall/wide, Becky 24-36 inches tall/18-24 inches wide
- Flowers – Classic white petals, yellow centers
A few differences:
- Bloom time – Becky blooms longer, from early summer to fall
- Stems – Becky has upright, rigid stems that don’t flop
- Height – Becky grows slightly taller, reaching 3 feet
Becky vs Shasta Care
Fortunately, Becky and Shasta daisies share the same care requirements:
- Plant in full sun
- Water 1-2 inches per week
- Fertilize in spring with compost or 10-10-10 fertilizer
- Prune spent flowers to encourage reblooming
- Mulch in winter to protect crown
- Divide every 2-3 years to rejuvenate
Key tips:
- Deadhead Shasta daisies to keep stems from flopping
- Stake Shasta stems if needed
- Becky usually doesn’t require staking
- Divide Becky clumps when they exceed 24 inches wide
Using Becky and Shasta Daisies in the Landscape
Both Becky and Shasta daisies work beautifully in perennial flower beds, borders, cutting gardens, and containers.
- Plant en masse for a bold splash of white and yellow
- Mix them with other daisy varieties for a colorful daisy garden
- Use as cut flowers – they last up to 2 weeks in a vase
- Plant in groups of 3-5 for fuller effect
- Pair them with blue, purple and pink flowers for contrast
Some favorite companion plants include:
- Purple coneflower
- Russian sage
- Asters
- Coreopsis
- Lavender
Should You Choose Becky or Shasta?
If you’re deciding between Becky and Shasta daisy, consider your goals:
- For larger blooms – Pick Becky
- For longer flowering – Becky blooms summer to fall
- For stronger stems – Becky stands tall without staking
- For classic daisy look – Both are very similar
- For budget-friendly – Shasta costs less than Becky
In short, Becky offers improvements over Shasta but costs a bit more. If you don’t need huge flowers or extended bloom time, the classic Shasta daisy may meet your needs. But for the sturdy, upright stems alone, Becky is worth the small splurge!
Whichever you choose, Shasta and Becky daisies are reliable perennials that will provide years of summer flower power. With some basic care, they are easy to grow and among the hardiest daisy varieties for the garden.
HISTORY OF THE SHASTA DAISY
It was Massachusetts native Luther Burbank who hybridized the Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) in 1890. Shista daisy ‘Becky,’ which was named plant perennial of the year in 2003, was just an experiment for Burbank as he tried to make the whitest flower for his California garden. Burbank knew the whitest flowers in a garden glow as the moonlight bounces off the rays at night. He was looking to create a magical atmosphere where nature could dance under the moonlight. He was able to make this work by mixing and matching a Japanese daisy with an American daisy. And, thus, the whitest flower was born. You might be wondering where the name Shasta came from. It was named after Mount Shasta, which is white and snow-capped.
But it seems that Atlanta has a lot of history with this plant as well. Nearly 80 years later, a version of Burbank’s plant popped up in Atlanta. The story goes that Ida Mae, who owned a flower shop and nursery, found this plant while she was out looking in her neighborhood.
After that, she would sell gardeners a bunch of “Becky” or people a few stems to use in flower arrangements. Mae’s daughter, Mary Ann Gatlin, gave a clump one day to her friend Becky Stewart.
So, when plant expert Bill Funkhouser went to the Stewarts’ garden in the mid-1980s, he started looking for the plant’s botanical name. Without finding one, he named it ‘Becky’ in honor of Becky Stewart.
During this time, two other plantsmen named the same flower. The flower came from the Gatlins and was being grown by nurseryman Bud Heist under the name “Ida Mae.” Flower magazine contributor Ryan Gainey gave this flower to Goodness Grows under the name “Ryan’s Daisy.” ’.
Later, Funkhouser joined White Flower Farms in Litchfield, Connecticut, where ‘Becky’ was able to be marketed and sold all across the US. It was because of White Flower Farms that ‘Becky’ went on to become the 2003 Plant Perennial of the Year. Somehow I can just see all of these people having a cocktail together watching the moonlight dance on the ‘Becky’/‘Ryan’/‘Shasta’ daisy. Can’t you?
‘Becky’: One of the best cultivars, it flowers later and is larger than others. Flowering from July through September, this plant grows 3–4 feet tall.
‘Christine Hagemann’: Introduced from Germany, this double-flowering Shasta daisy has flowers 3 1/2 inches across. The double flower says the rest!.
‘Silver Spoon’: This unique single bloom’s rays spread out flat.
‘Crazy Daisy’: Large double blooms are frilled, quelled and twisted. Each one is unique.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF DAISIES
- Shasta daisies are one of the easiest perennials to grow. They like moist but well-drained soil, but they don’t have to have it.
- Apply a granular fertilizer like Osmocote once a month, and if you want, liquid-feed once a week.
- Staking is generally a good idea, but not a necessity.
- If flowers make plant stems bend over, gather them up and tie them off with a Velcro strip before they break.
- Deadheading spent flowers will increase bloom longevity.
- Divide clumps every other spring or as desired.
Leucanthemum ‘Becky’ (Shasta Daisy) // All-time Favorite, Long Blooming, Sun Loving Perennial!
FAQ
How big do Becky Shasta daisies get?
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