Oxeye Daisy

Information

Leucanthemum vulgare - Asteraceae Family - Perennial

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Identification

Flowers: White daisy-like flowers.
Seeds: A single plant can produce up to 40 stems, and up to 200 seeds. Oxeye daisy can spread both vegetatively and by seed.
Leaves: Leaves are 1-4 inches long and toothed or lobed and have a disagreeable odor when crushed.
Flowering Time: All summer.
Life cycle: Oxeye daisy is a perennial and can grow 1-3 feet tall.

Impacts

Oxeye daisy is native to Europe and was introduced into the United States as an ornamental in the 1800s.
Invades pastures, fields, meadows, forests, and waste areas.
Oxeye daisy can thrive in a wide variety of soil types and can grow in sun to partial shade.
The plants form dense infestations and decrease species diversity. They have been shown to carry several crop diseases.

Most effective control methods

In pastures, mowing as soon as the first flowers open can eliminate seed production. However, mowing may stimulate shoot production and subsequent flowering.
Because of its shallow root system, oxeye daisy is easily killed by intensive cultivation.
Picloram and 2, 4-D are effective at reducing canopy cover of oxeye daisy. However, based on a study in an eastern Washington mountain meadow, application of nitrogen fertilizer was almost as effective as the herbicides at reducing canopy cover of oxeye daisy.
Effective biocontrol insects or pathogens have not been found for oxeye daisy because of several compounds within the plant that are generally highly toxic to insect herbivores.

Control methods and timing

March	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct
Prev Mech Cult	Prev Mech Cult	Prev Mech Cult Chem	Prev Mech Cult	Prev Mech	Prev Mech	Cult	Cult

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April

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Cult

Chem

Cult

Prevention (Prev) Monitor and destroy new plants before seed production.

Mechanical (Mech) Hand pulling, digging, cutting, mowing and tilling.

Cultural (Cult) Biological control agents, livestock grazing, and revegetation practices.

Chemical (Chem) Selective herbicides based on the plant and the specific location. Check our weed fact sheets for specific control information.

Oxeye daisy: flowers

Oxeye daisy: foliage

Oxeye daisy

Oxeye daisy: infestation

Oxeye daisy: stems and foliage

Oxeye daisy: seedlings

Oxeye daisy: flowers

Oxeye daisy

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension: Identification and Management of Oxeye Daisy View PDF