Shasta Daisy vs Oxeye Daisy: How to Tell the Difference and Why It Matters

Shasta daisies and oxeye daisies may look similar at first glance with their classic white petals and yellow centers, but they are quite different plants. While the Shasta daisy is a popular ornamental flower, the oxeye daisy is considered a noxious weed in some areas. Understanding how to distinguish these two daisies is important for proper identification and control.

Shasta Daisy Description

The Shasta daisy is a hybrid flower created by horticulturist Luther Burbank in the 1890s He crossed several daisy species from the genus Leucanthemum to create a large, robust flower with excellent landscape performance

Some key characteristics of the Shasta daisy are:

• Large flowers, up to 4 inches across.

• White ray petals and yellow disk florets,

• Long, sturdy stems up to 36 inches tall. Great for cutting.

• Dark green leaves are toothless with shallow lobes.

• Basal leaves are spoon-shaped.

• Grows in clumps and spreads slowly in the garden.

Shasta daisies bloom profusely in summer and make excellent border plants or foundation plantings. They tolerate heat and drought once established. Dividing the clumps every 2-3 years will help maintain flowering vigor.

Oxeye Daisy Description

Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is a flowering weed introduced from Europe and Asia. It has spread across North America and is listed as a noxious weed in many areas.

Some key characteristics of the oxeye daisy are:

• Flowers are smaller than Shasta daisies, 1-2 inches across.

• White ray petals with yellow disk florets.

• Grows 1-3 feet tall on single stems branched near the top.

• Deeply lobed, toothed leaves are dark green on top and pale green below.

• Basal leaves are elongated and spoon-shaped.

• Spreads rapidly through rhizomes and prolific seed production.

Oxeye daisies can form dense colonies along roadsides, meadows, fields and disturb areas. Each plant can produce over 200 seeds that spread easily by wind, animals, mowing and contaminated hay.

How to Distinguish Shasta vs. Oxeye Daisies

Telling Shasta and oxeye daisies apart does take some close inspection. Here are a few key differences to look for:

• Plant height: Shasta daisies grow taller, up to 36 inches compared to 24 inches for oxeye daisy.

• Flower size: Shasta daisy flowers are noticeably larger.

• Leaves: Shasta leaves are toothless with very shallow lobes while oxeye leaves have deeper, sharper teeth and lobes.

• Growth habit: Shastas grow in dense clumps that spread slowly while oxeye daisies grow as single stems with rhizomes that spread rapidly.

Why Properly Identifying These Daisies Matters

On the surface, Shasta and oxeye daisies may look like innocent, beautiful wildflowers. But oxeye daisy is classified as a noxious weed for good reason.

If left uncontrolled, oxeye daisy can rapidly invade pastures, fields, roadsides and other areas. Dense oxeye colonies can crowd out native plants, reduce forage quality, and become a nuisance. Getting a handle on oxeye daisy infestations requires correct identification and monitoring.

Meanwhile, the Shasta daisy is bred to be a non-invasive, garden-worthy perennial. So you want to be sure you can tell it apart from oxeye daisy.

Accurate ID between these two daisies will help you:

• Know if you have an uncontrolled oxeye daisy problem.

• Avoid accidentally spreading oxeye daisy by seed.

• Prevent oxeye contamination in hay, gravel or soil.

• Determine best control methods for oxeye daisy while sparing desired Shasta daisies.

• Choose suitable daisy species for your garden and landscape design.

Control and Management of Oxeye Daisies

Once you’ve positively identified oxeye daisy growth, taking control measures as soon as possible is advised. Here are some effective ways to manage oxeye daisies:

• Hand pull or dig: Removing oxeye daisies by hand before they set seed will help deplete the seed bank over time. Make sure to get the entire taproot.

• Mowing/cutting: Repeated mowing several times before flowering can suppress oxeye daisies but must be continued in order to prevent regrowth.

• Grazing: Some reports indicate goats will graze on oxeye daisies. Move animals before plants set seed.

• Herbicides: Systemic broadleaf herbicides like aminopyralid, clopyralid, or metsulfuron-methyl can provide effective oxeye daisy control, especially on larger infestations. Always follow label directions.

• Outcompete: Establishing competitive, desirable vegetation can help suppress future oxeye growth.

• Prevention: Avoid introducing oxeye daisy to new areas on clothing, equipment or animals. Remove plants, seed heads, and roots from hay prior to transport or use.

Shasta and Oxeye Daisies: In Summary

• Shasta and oxeye daisies have similar flowers but key differences in height, leaves, and growth habit.

• Oxeye daisy is classified as a noxious weed; Shasta daisy is a non-invasive ornamental.

• Properly identifying between these two daisies is crucial for control efforts and prevention of oxeye daisy spread.

• Management of oxeye daisies should focus on early detection, stopping seed production, herbicide treatment, and re-establishing desired vegetation.

So now that you know how to tell these lookalike daisies apart, you can help admire the beauty of Shasta daisies while keeping oxeye daisies in check! Proper identification is the first step to improving landscapes and preventing noxious weed invasions.