How to Plant and Grow Shasta Daisy

Easy, always fresh, and always eye-catching, the Shasta daisy is a longtime garden favorite. Because it comes in all different sizes, from 6 to 48 inches tall, it can be planted in small urban lots as well as large backyards. The flowers vary greatly, too, coming in various degrees of doubleness and size. The sturdy stems and long vase life also make Shasta daisies unbeatable for cutting.

Where to Plant Shasta Daisy

Plant Shasta daisy in a location with full sun and well-draining soil. They do best in neutral soil.

The flowers look stunning when planted in drifts. Shasta daisy is also attractive as a standalone plant in a mixed bed surrounded by other sun-loving perennials.

How and When to Plant Shasta Daisy

Plant nursery-grown Shasta daisies in the spring after the danger of frost. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the root ball and about the same depth. Place the plant in the hole and fill in with the original soil to the top of the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil and water it well. Keep it watered for at least one week or until the plant is established. 

Space plants 1 to 2 feet apart, depending on the mature size of the variety.

Shasta Daisy Care Tips

It is not surprising that Shasta daisies are so popular. Having these iconic snowy white flowers bloom in your yard yearly requires very little care. Taller varieties may need staking.

Light

Shasta daisies need at least 6 hours of full sun per day.

Soil and Water

Shasta daisy does just fine in average, not overly rich soil, but excellent drainage is a must. Soggy soil can cause root rot. The closer the soil pH is to neutral, the better, but anything between 5.5 and 7.0 is acceptable.

Once established, Shasta daisy is moderately drought-tolerant and only needs to be watered in extended dry periods or when grown in containers.

Temperature and Humidity

As delicate as the snow-white flowers may seem, Shasta daisies are pretty tough; they survive winters in Zone 4 and are also heat-tolerant. In high humidity, on the other hand, the plants are prone to get powdery mildew, which does not kill them but makes them unsightly.

Fertilizer

Shasta daisy does not need frequent fertilizer applications, especially if it is growing in soil that contains a generous amount of organic matter; usually, a one-time application of an all-purpose slow-release granular fertilizer in the spring when the plant starts growing is sufficient. Alternatively, you can also spread a thin layer of compost around the base of the plants in the spring.

Pruning

The only pruning Shasta daisies need is cutting the stems back to the base in the fall after they are finished blooming.

Potting and Repotting Shasta Daisy

For container growth, select a shorter variety. Use a pot with large drainage holes and well-draining potting soil. Keep in mind that it will need more frequent watering and about a monthly application of liquid all-purpose fertilizer to make up for the nutrient runoff.

Despite the winter-hardiness of Shasta daisy, growing it in a pot has its challenges, as the roots are not insulated against the soil like in garden soil. To protect them from cold damage, you can sink the pot into the ground, insulate it with a thick layer of mulch, or winterize it by placing it in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo.

The plants need repotting when the roots have filled the container.

Pests and Problems

Shasta daisy attracts different pests, including aphids, slugs, and earwigs. Through water, nematodes (soil-borne roundworms) can also find their way to the plants. Common diseases are leaf spot and different forms of wilt. Problems are usually more frequent in wet and cool weather.

How to Propagate Shasta Daisy

Shasta daisies can be propagated by division or from seed. Dividing the plant every 2 to 3 years produces new plants and rejuvenates them, as the center of the clump dies out after a couple of seasons. In the early spring or warm climates in the fall, dig out the entire clump with a shovel and separate it into sections. Make sure that each section has healthy-looking roots. Replant the sections at the same depth as the original plant and keep them well-watered for a few weeks.

The other propagation method is starting the seeds indoors eight weeks before your location's average last spring frost. Place the seeds on top of pots filled with damp potting mix and cover them with 1/8 inch potting mix. At 70 degrees F, the seeds germinate within 15 to 21 days. Place the pots in a sunny window or use grow lights for the entire day; otherwise, the seedlings will turn scraggly. Transplant the seedlings outdoors when there is no more danger of frost.

Types of Shasta Daisy

'Alaska' Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Alaska' bears 3-inch-wide single white flowerheads with yellow discs on 2- to 3-foot stems. The flowers start to bloom in early summer and continue through fall if deadheaded routinely. Zones 5-8

'Becky' Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky' is an award-winning variety with strong stems and 3-inch-wide white flowers. It's a vigorous grower to 40 inches tall. Zones 4-8

'Cobham Gold' Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Cobham Gold' has fully double white flowerheads with a yellow disc. These bloom from early summer to fall, carried singly atop 2-foot stems. Deadhead to prolong bloom time. The plants make sturdy clumps of 8-inch long dark green leaves. Zones 5-8

'Crazy Daisy'

The big double blooms of this variety are frilled, quilled, and twisted; each bloom differs from the other. The plant reaches 24 to 28 inches in height and 18 to 24 inches in width. Zone 5-9

Shasta Daisy Companion Plants

Russian Sage

With its wispy texture and lavender or blue color, Russian sage provides contrast to other plants. This a tough plant both in cool and hot climates—the hotter and stronger the sun, the better. Well-draining soil is key, but beyond that, this perennial is unfinicky and long-lived. Zone 4-9

Yarrow

This classic garden perennial is known for its ruggedness. Yarrow shrugs off cold winters, hot and humid summers, drought, and poor soils to cheerfully bloom in sunny places. With its tall stems of colorful flowers and fern-like foliage, it works especially well in a cottage garden setting and in wildflower gardens.

Baptisia

Commonly known as false indigo, this rugged prairie plant features tall spires of colorful blooms along with attractive blue-green foliage. Its flowers, which resemble those of peas or beans, give away that the plant is a member of the legume family. They are followed by clusters of showy seed pods that dry out as they mature and create a rattling noise in the breeze. Despite its botanical name, Baptisia australis, this perennial is native to the United States.