Chicago trial ranks shasta, oxeye daisies

Shasta daisies ‘Amelia’ and ‘Becky’ and oxeye daisies ‘Filigran’ and ‘Maikönigin’ ranked highest among 36 cultivars trialed at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

The top picks all received an “excellent” mark for flower coverage, according to Richard Hawke, plant evaluation manager.

Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Amelia’ features 5-inch flowers from June to early August. The plant grows 40 inches tall and 32 inches wide. L. x superbum ‘Becky’ flowers from July to early September. The single flowers are 3 1/2 inches long. It grows 40 inches tall and 36 inches wide.

L. vulgare ‘Filigran’ blooms from May to early July with 2-inch flowers. It grows 26 inches tall and 30 inches wide. L. vulgare ‘Maikönigin’ features 3-inch flowers from May to late July. It grows 36 inches tall and wide.

Plants were evaluated from 1999 through 2006.

The trail site received approximately 10 hours of full sun during the growing season. The well-drained, clay-loam soil with a pH of 7.4 was amended with composted leaves.

Water was provided as needed, and no fertilizer was applied.

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For more: Richard Hawke, Chicago Botanic Garden, (847) 835-8251; rhawke@chicagobotanic.org.

March 2008