Leucanthemum x superbum

Shasta Daisy Care & Identification Guide

A classic cottage garden masterpiece created by legendary horticulturist Luther Burbank, the Shasta Daisy features large, pristine white blossoms with glowing golden-yellow centers. Rising on sturdy, dark-green stems, they are the ultimate symbol of summer cheer. It is widely celebrated by botanists for its distinct environmental adaptability and structural appeal.

Sunlight Full Sun

Watering Moderate

Soil Mix Rich, fertile

Temperature 15°C - 28°C

Toxicity Toxic to Pets

Botanical macro photography of Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) - Plant AI care database

How to Identify Shasta Daisy

A robust, clump-forming herbaceous perennial producing large, single white daisy blossoms on sturdy, unbranched dark-green stalks.

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Key Visual Features: Coarse, dark-green, leathery lance-shaped leaves with sharply saw-toothed edges, sturdy erect stems, and large flat white blooms.
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Color Variations: Pristine snowy-white petals surrounding a distinct, glowing dome-like golden-yellow center.
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Common Confusions: Often confused with wild Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) or Chamomile, but Shasta Daisy is much larger (blooms are 3-4 inches wide), has much sturdier erect stems, and features coarse, leathery sharply-toothed leaves (not finely divided/lace-like).

💡 Plant AI Tip: If you are not sure, take a photo with Plant AI to identify it instantly.

Complete Care & Cultivation Guide

Follow our detailed scientific care guide to keep your Shasta Daisy thriving and gorgeous all year round.

Shasta Daisy requires a highly measured water supply. Typically, water thoroughly until it drains out of the bottom holes only when the top soil layer becomes dry. Based on its specific characteristics: Moderate (Keep soil evenly moist; water deeply when top 1.5 inches of soil are dry; avoid wet, heavy clay waterlogging). Never allow the roots to sit in stagnant water as it leads to root decay. Reduce watering significantly during autumn and winter dormant phases.

Regular deadheading is essential for Shasta Daisy. Snip off faded, spent flowers immediately to prevent seed production and redirect the plant's energy into producing fresh new buds. Trim yellowing or damaged foliage near the stem base using sterilized bypass shears.

Feed Shasta Daisy heavily in spring and summer with a fertilizer high in phosphorus to support prolific bud development and rich petal color. Apply a diluted balanced flower liquid fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid excess nitrogen which results in massive green leaves but sparse blooms.

Shasta Daisy requires Full Sun (Requires 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily; lower light results in weak, floppy stems and fewer blooms). Provide bright, consistent indirect filtered sunlight daily. Avoid exposing the foliage to harsh direct midday sun which can easily bleach, scorch, or dry out the delicate leaves.

The optimal substrate for Shasta Daisy is a loose, rich, exceptionally fast-draining potting soil. Based on requirements: Rich, fertile, exceptionally well-draining garden loam or sandy loam potting mix (pH 6.0-7.0). A standard high-aeration mix consists of 50% organic peat moss or coco coir, 30% chunky orchid bark or pumice, and 20% coarse perlite to facilitate excellent oxygen circulation.

Easily propagate Shasta Daisy using stem cuttings in spring. Cut a healthy 4-inch stem section just below a node, remove lower leaves, and submerge the node in clean water or moist perlite mix until active roots develop in 3 weeks.

Thrives in standard warm environmental conditions: 15°C - 28°C (59°F - 82°F); highly cold-hardy perennial, easily survives severe winter freezing under snow. Keep the plant safe from cold drafts, drafty windows, air conditioning vents, or direct heaters. Ensure winter protection is maintained to prevent cellular damage and floppy leaf decay.

Choose a heavy unglazed clay or terracotta container with multiple bottom drainage holes. Terracotta allows excess soil moisture to breathe and evaporate safely. Repot the plant every 1 to 2 years in spring, upgrading to a container that is 2 inches wider.

Regularly inspect Shasta Daisy leaves for spider mites spinning fine webs under dusty leaves, cottony mealybugs hiding in leaf joints, or scale insects on stems. Treat immediately by wiping foliage with organic neem oil solution or spraying with mild insecticidal soap every 7 days.

Shasta Daisy can be affected by: • **Acremonium Wilt (Fungal)**: Symptoms include Lower leaves turn yellow, wilt, and dry out starting from one side of the stem, eventually causing the entire stem to die.. *Action*: Prune and destroy infected stems immediately. Avoid overhead watering. Apply systemic fungicide to soil in spring. | • **Grey Mold (Botrytis)**: Symptoms include White flower petals develop water-soaked brown spots, rotting into a fuzzy grey mold in wet, rainy, humid summer weather.. *Action*: Prune spent blooms immediately to maximize airflow. Water strictly at the soil base. Spray with copper fungicide.. Always prioritize soil drainage and proper air circulation. Spray leaves with organic fungicides like copper fungicide or chamomile tea sprays to prevent bacterial leaf spot spreads.

The secret to a gorgeous Shasta Daisy is consistent placement and cleaning. Avoid rotating or moving the plant frequently as sudden environmental shifts can induce shock. Wipe leaves with a damp microfiber cloth monthly to clear dust and enhance natural photosynthesis.

Common Diseases & Treatment

Acremonium Wilt (Fungal)

Symptoms: Lower leaves turn yellow, wilt, and dry out starting from one side of the stem, eventually causing the entire stem to die.

Action: Prune and destroy infected stems immediately. Avoid overhead watering. Apply systemic fungicide to soil in spring.

Grey Mold (Botrytis)

Symptoms: White flower petals develop water-soaked brown spots, rotting into a fuzzy grey mold in wet, rainy, humid summer weather.

Action: Prune spent blooms immediately to maximize airflow. Water strictly at the soil base. Spray with copper fungicide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How was the classic Shasta Daisy first created?

It is a masterpiece of plant breeding! Legendary horticulturist Luther Burbank spent over 15 years in the late 1800s crossbreeding four different daisy species—the wild Oxeye Daisy, the English Field Daisy, the Portuguese Daisy, and the Japanese Nippon Daisy—to create the perfect large, pristine white, sturdy-stemmed flower we love today, naming it after the snow-capped Mount Shasta.

Is the Shasta Daisy toxic to household dogs and cats?

Yes! Shasta Daisies are mildly to moderately toxic to pets. They contain natural pyrethrins (insecticidal compounds) and sesquiterpene lactones. Ingesting any part of the plant triggers hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, and skin irritation. Keep pets away from your daisy borders!

Why is the center of my Shasta Daisy flower emitting a strange, unpleasant smell?

This is a natural evolutionary design! Shasta Daisies belong to the Aster family, and their glowing golden central disk flowers produce volatile organic compounds that emit a mild, musky, slightly sour scent. This smell is specifically designed to attract beetles and hoverflies, which are their primary wild pollinators.

How do I prevent my Shasta Daisy clumps from dying out in the center?

You must divide them every 2 to 3 years! Shasta Daisies are exceptionally vigorous growers. Over time, the center of the clump becomes overcrowded, woodier, and dies out, resulting in fewer flowers. In early spring, dig up the entire clump, discard the woody center, separate the healthy outer shoots with roots, and replant them.