Oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum/Leucanthemum vulgare)
State law: If you live in a “containment” area, it does NOT mean you can let the daisy grow freely on your property. Containment means that you need to suppress the weed (reduce its vigor and seed production) and keep it from spreading any further. If at all possible, it should slowly be eradicated, but work must be done every year nonetheless.
Quick Facts:
A shallow rooted perennial which spreads by rhizomes. Characteristic ‘daisy-like’ flowers Plants initially develop as a basal rosette (middle picture). Lower rosette leaves occur on petioles and are from 1 1/2 to 6 inches long.- Wildlife and livestock do not like to graze or walk through an area infested with Ox-eye daisy since the plants irritate their legs and faces. Very few animals will eat ox-eye daisy and ox-eye daisy infestations push out plants that wildlife prefer to eat, thus directly reducing wildlife habitat.
- Because oxeye daisy is such a showy, pretty plant, proper management is often neglected.
- Oxeye daisy should be mowed as soon as buds appear to reduce seed production. Flowers can produce viable seed when open for as little as 5 days. Plants will go to seed in mid-July to mid-August in Gilpin County.
- Root systems are shallow and the plant can be dug up and removed. Hand removal will have to be continued for several years because seeds may remain viable in the soil for a long time.
- No biological controls have been found for oxeye daisy.
- Proper grazing management will help prevent oxeye daisy from infesting your land. An adequate canopy of grass needs to be maintained to shade oxeye daisy and prevent it from becoming well established.
- Native daisies and asters are good alternatives.
Shasta daisy (left) vs. Oxeye daisy (right)