The Shasta promises a big, bold flower with nothing small or delicate about this plant.
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The botanical name for this daisy is Leucanthemum x superbum.
The genus name Leucanthemom is taken from the Greek leukos, meaning white, and anthemon meaning flower.
The Shasta daisy is a perennial that produces large, white daisy blooms with yellow centres and its hybrids were developed by plant breeder Luther Burbank over 100 years ago.
This plant grows quickly and produces flowers through the spring, through the summer and even into autumn.
It belongs to the Asteraceae family which means that what looks like one flower is really a group of small flowers that gives the appearance of only being one.
Pick any daisy flower and look closely at it – each ‘petal’ is a flower in its own right and the centre is actually made up of a mass of small flowers jammed tightly together – very deceptive.
The Shasta daisy will often be herbaceous, which means it may die down during the cold weather and then reshoot when the temperatures rise.
However, the specimen at Wodonga TAFE’s Horticulture Department hasn’t died down for a few years as it’s in a beautifully protected location.
We give it a decent prune when flowering finishes but that’s all it gets.
The Shasta daisy is great as a cut flower and looks pretty awesome in the garden.
There has been some hybridisation with this plant so there are some variations available.
To grow the Shasta successfully, all it needs is full sun and a soil that is well drained and fairly fertile.
Water regularly when the temperatures are high and feed monthly for more growth.
These are easy plants to propagate - you can collect seed or you can take stem cuttings.
This is a great plant to quickly fill a spot in the garden and it’s also a great plant to grow in a container.
Plant your Shastas, mulch them well for summer, water regularly, feed monthly and this plant will reward you with masses of flowers for a long time to come.
DIARY
In 2019 Free TAFE for Priority Courses will reduce barriers for students wanting to train in courses leading to priority occupations – those in demand from employers in the Victorian economy. A Victorian government initiative, selected agriculture and horticulture courses are included. To find out more about Free TAFE for Priority Courses, including eligibility and course details phone 1300 MY TAFE (1300 698 233) or email info@wodongatafe.edu.au
