Leucanthemum vulgare (Ox-eye Daisy)
| Also known as: | Common Daisy, Marguerite |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Leucanthemum |
| Family: | Asteraceae (Aster) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Status: |
|
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; disturbed soil, fields, along roads |
| Bloom season: | June - August |
| Plant height: | 1 to 3 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: UPL MW: UPL NCNE: UPL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/oxeye-daisy_0621_093548.jpg)
A single flower 1 to 2 inches across is at the end of a long, mostly naked flower stalk at the top of the stem, sometimes also arising from uppermost leaf axils. Flowers have 15 to 35 white petals (ray flowers) and a golden yellow button shaped center disk, up to ¾ inch across. The bracts surrounding the base of the flower are in 2 to 4 layers and are green with dark purplish-brown edging.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of stem and mid-stem leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/white/leucanthemum-vulgare-oxeye-daisy_0621_093642.jpg)
Basal and lowest stem leaves are up to 5 inches long and ¾ inch wide, generally spoon to spatula shaped with narrow lobes or large teeth and a long stalk. Leaves become smaller, more linear-oblong, and stalkless as they ascend the stem. Stems are multiple from the base (up to 40), seldom branched, angled or furrowed, and mostly hairless. Large colonies can form from creeping rhizomes.
Fruit:
The center disk becomes a head of dry, brown, ribbed seeds that lack tufts of hair. Each flower produces up to 200 seeds.
Notes:
Ox-eye Daisy, formerly known as Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, is easily recognizable, commonly found in gardens all across the US. It was brought over from Europe in the 1800s, escaped into the wild and has become an aggressive, invasive breeder, often seen along roadsides, trail edges, in old fields and other disturbed soils. The leaves easily distinguish this species from others with similar flowers. Leucanthemum vulgare is one of the parents of Shasta Daisy, a popular garden plant that is reputed to lack the invasive tendency of its parent. Time will tell.
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More photos
Ox-eye Daisy plants
invasion of Ox-eye Daisy
Ox-eye Daisy with invasive Hawkweeds and Tall Buttercup
bracts around a flower bud
basal leaves emerging in spring
Ox-eye Daisy plants
invasion of Ox-eye Daisy
Ox-eye Daisy with invasive Hawkweeds and Tall Buttercup
bracts around a flower bud
basal leaves emerging in springPhotos by K. Chayka taken in Aitkin and Ramsey counties. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2013-12-21 18:45:35
saw a bunch of this on a federal wpa just west of hitterdal, pretty, didnt realize it was invasive till now.. http://s485.photobucket.com/user/fishnrodds/media/FILE0248.jpg.html
on: 2015-06-01 18:07:04
Can be scene in the ditches all around grand Marais
on: 2015-06-21 12:27:51
These are growing alongside the Paul Bunyan State Trail going south out of Bemidji.
on: 2019-06-16 01:11:48
These daisies have emerged on the top of our bank, in fields and ditches in the area around the lakes. Along the ridge of our bank/bluff. I pulled them two years ago, had very few last year, and this year are back more prolifically.
on: 2020-07-20 11:52:23
I've seen a few of these along the walking path off of county road 30/old hwy 61 in North Branch. I didn't realize they were invasive -- what a shame because they always have insect pollinators on them.
on: 2021-06-22 14:00:16
We have them in our yard in Robbinsdale and a big infestation in Golden Valley.
on: 2021-07-14 12:02:15
I thought that they looked nice in that bunch so I mowed around them. I spoke with a friend of mine retired from the fish and wildlife and he also said that they are Invasive. Off to spray and remove.
on: 2022-01-29 18:22:17
According to Midwest Foraging by Lisa Rose, you can eat the early spring greens in salads and eat the summer flowers, too! Might be a fun way to get rid of a patch on your yard (assuming you've identified it correctly and you know the soil is not contaminated with herbicide or other pollutants).
on: 2022-05-23 19:10:08
They are all along the ditches i our neighborhood
on: 2023-05-26 10:26:25
I have them in my yard in Mankato
on: 2023-10-18 05:14:40
I noticed these this summer on the edges and ditches along a lake road I often walk. They appear to be spreading because now I see more and more individual clumps that haven't produced stems yet.
on: 2024-07-04 22:55:52
These flowers are abundant in the prairie area of Tamarack Nature Center.