Best Shasta Daisies: 10 Varieties to Add Cheerfulness to a Garden

The Evolution of Shasta Daisies, Leucanthemumbegan with American plant breeding pioneer Luther Burbank. He is said to have introduced about 800 different new plant varieties, including the first thornless blackberry, he worked for many years developing these large-flowered, golden-eyed white daisies and named them Shasta daisies for the snow-capped peak of Mount Shasta in northern California.

Burbank introduced its first Shasta daisy in 1901, and since then more and more varieties have been developed on both sides of the Atlantic, with the best available to American gardeners.

Now there are not only single-flowering varieties of these hardy zone 3 to 5 perennials with flowers like huge daisies, but also double forms, shaggy and frilly forms, flower-centered varieties anemone and some with creamy or even bright yellow petals. now available. Here we feature 10 of the best Shasta daisies.

10 of the Best Shasta Daisies for Your Garden

These are hardy plants that bear unusually dark leaves to set off the flowers beautifully. The upright stems branch towards the ends to create a succession of daisies that open upwards and, if cut back when the final flowers fade, new flowering shoots will often emerge from the base. Whether they will spread depends on how often the plants are divided and replanted.

Situation: Full sun or partial shade in any good soil that does not dry out in summer and does not stay wet in winter. The shorter varieties store well in large containers.

Care: Deadhead regularly to encourage a succession of flowers, prune heavily when the first bloom has faded.

Do more: Most varieties can be lifted, divided and the healthiest pieces replanted in spring. Some can be grown from seed and flower in their first year.

Deer resistant? Sometimes badly damaged, usually resistant.

Rusticity: Hardiness varies between USDA zone 3 and zone 5.

A good range of Shasta daisies are available from Nature Hills.

There is also a wide The Shasta daisy line is also available at Walmart.

Alaska

Large white daisies up to 3 inches open on medium-height plants from early summer to early fall, set off nicely by narrow, dark green leaves and stems.

The stems are relatively sparsely branched, making this variety particularly useful for cutting, but an individual plant may be in flower for three months, especially if cut quickly. It’s also one of the hardiest varieties, so it’s ideal in zones 3 and 4. Available as seeds and plants.

Height: 2-3 feet.

Good for: Perennial and mixed flower beds, cottage gardens, cuttings, attracting pollinators.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring, start seedlings in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 3

Leucanthemum (Marguerite Shasta) ‘Alaska’ is available from Ferry Morse.

Amazing series of daisies

A series of half a dozen varieties, all developed in Michigan, that combine brilliant flower power and a long flowering season.

Look especially for ‘Banana Cream’ (open lemon yellow buds on creamy white flowers); ‘Daisy May’ (classic daisy flowers, well branched to give an unusually long flowering season); ‘Marshmallow’ (large flowers start semi-double, then mature to a shaggy double appearance) and ‘Spun Silk’ (very large flowers, each petal fringed at the tip). Available only in plant form.

Height: 20-24 inches

Good for: Perennial and mixed plants in beds, cuttings.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 5

Belgian Lace

Growing into a low mound of branching stems, the double flowers open all summer and have creamy centers and delicately fringed petals at the tips.

Its dome-shaped growth allows it to be planted at the front of beds and borders where other varieties would bare their stems. I have also seen it grown as a specimen in a large container. Available only in plant form.

Height: 24-26 inches

Good for: Perennial and mixed plants, one of the rare varieties of Shasta daisies that makes a good ground cover.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 5

Betsy

Probably the variety with the largest flowers, some sources rate them up to 7 inches across, but 5 inches is more realistic. Flowers of this size really make an impact but are heavy, especially if they collect heavy rain, so it is usually a good idea to support them using canes and twine or steel support frames.

Deadheading quickly improves the plant’s appearance with just a few shears. Available in seed and plant form.

Height: 18-24 inches

Good for: Perennial and mixed flower beds, cottage gardens, cuttings, attracting pollinators.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring, start seedlings in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 4

Leucanthemum (Marguerite Shasta) ‘Betsy is available from Burpee.

crazy daisy

‘Crazy Daisy’ gets its name from its semi-double flowers, made up of a mass of slender petals, each equally fringed at the ends, and sometimes twisted, to create a very distinctive, slightly explosive look.

The unique flower shape makes ‘Crazy Daisy’ an intriguing cut flower. Available in seed and plant form.

Height: 22-26 inches

Good for: Perennial and mixed flower beds, cottage gardens, cuttings.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring, start seedlings in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 4

Leucanthemum (Marguerite Shasta) ‘Crazy Daisy’ is available from Eden Brothers.

Goldfinch

An ideal Shasta daisy candidate with the best yellow coloring, the semi-double flowers open lemon yellow then gently fade to a slightly creamy white creating a lovely harmony of tones.

The bold gold eye adds to the look, as do the slightly frilly tips of the petals. Very pretty when cut and arranged with bronze foliage and with other yellow and cream flowers. Available only in plant form.

Height: 18-24 inches

Good for: Perennial and mixed flower beds, cottage gardens, cuttings.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 5

Moon

The flowers of this very distinctive variety have a rare pompom format and although somewhat smaller than the flowers of many varieties, they retain their yellow coloring for up to two weeks.

The flowers then mature to a two-tone yellow before finally turning white with golden tips on each petal and a golden eye. The plants are mounded rather than upright, so the flowers almost hide the leaves. Available only in plant form.

Height: 18-22 inches

Good for: Perennial and mixed flower beds, cottage gardens, pollinators, cuttings.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 5

Actual series

This series of 15 British varieties with flowers ranging from the richest yellow to the most shimmering white come in a wide range of different flower shapes.

Look for ‘Real Glory’ (anemone-centered semi-double, with frilly fringed white petals. 36 inches); ‘Real Goldcup (exceptionally long-lasting yellow flowers. 36 inches); ‘Real Neat’ (very distinctive, with each white petal rolled into a trumpet. 16 inches) and ‘Real Winner’ (pretty frilly, pure white petals. 24 inches), but all are good. Available only in plant form.

Height: 16-36 in (depending on variety).

Good for: Perennial and mixed borders, cottage gardens and cuttings. Shorter varieties are suitable for containers, single flower varieties also attract many pollinators.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 5

Leucanthemum (Shasta daisy) ‘Breal Glory’ is available from Nature Hills.

Snow Lady

Developed specifically to be started from seed, ‘Snow Lady’ grows quickly from sowing in early spring and often opens its white flowers with golden eyes during its first year.

Against neat, dark foliage, the flowers are highlighted in a dazzling manner. During the plants’ second season, flowers will open on taller, mound-shaped plants that retain their dome shape, but on larger plants. Available in seed and plant form.

Height: 9-12 inches (first year), 15-18 inches (subsequent years).

Good for: Frontage of perennial and mixed borders, rockeries, containers, borders and good for pollinators.

Do more: Start from seed, or lift, divide and replant in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 4

Victorian Secret

The neat growing plants are covered with familiar white summer flowers with golden eyes. But, in “Victorian Secret,” the petals of each flower are not all held at the same angle, which gives each flower a very pretty, informal, rather ruffled appearance. The plants are shorter than many others and therefore work well in containers. Available only in plant form.

Height: 15-18 inches

Good for: Perennial and mixed borders, containers and good for pollinators.

Do more: Lift, divide and replant in spring.

Rusticity: USDA zone 4

If you already have other perennials growing in your beds and borders, fall is the perfect time to lift and divide them to create new plants that will fill in the gaps in the other art in your garden. Discover other perennials to divide in September in our handy seasonal guide.