Ox-eye Daisy May Queen belongs to the Asteraceae family, just like yarrow, yellow chamomile, and leopard’s bane. It is a tall-growing daisy variety with beautiful white flowers and a contrasting golden-yellow centre. This plant originates from America and grows wild on Mount Shasta in California. The flowers grow on long, sturdy stems with dark green, glossy, toothed leaves. Plant this beautiful flower in a sunny, sheltered position with well-drained soil. It also makes an excellent cut flower and is highly suitable for ornamental gardens, borders, and growing in large containers, for example on a balcony. The plant requires a sunny, sheltered location with well-drained soil and benefits from regular fertilisation. A short period of drought is not a problem, but it does not tolerate wet winter conditions. Due to its height and flower colour, this daisy combines beautifully with plants such as Verbena bonariensis, oxeye daisy, Shasta Daisy ‘Snow Lady’, tickseed, wormwood, and globe thistle. The foliage remains green throughout winter, but the plant should be protected from heavy rainfall and snow. Ox-eye Daisy May Queen is highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Ox-eye daisy May Queen flowers from May trough October. Hardy perennial. Height: 60 - 90 cm.
Outdoor sowing: May - July
Germination: 14 - 21 days
Germination temp.: 18 - 21°C
Sowing depth: shallow
Plant distance: 30 cm
Transplanting: October - November
Plant position: sunny - half shade
Flowering period: May - October (2nd year after sowing)
You can sow outside from the middle of May, when there is no chance of night frost. Sow shallowly and thinly in a prepared, fertilised and moistened seedbed. Keep the soil moist and warm during germination. Keep well moist and weed free. Thin out the seedlings once they are big enough to handle at 10 - 15 cm. From October the plants can be placed in a sunny spot with possibly some shade and in well drained soil. Also ensure good fertilisation
Shasta Daisy is a clump forming plant and can be propagated by sowing and tearing the clump. Prune this plant back in the spring after flowering to about 20 cm from the ground to keep it healthy. Very attractive to bees and butterflies. These plants flower in the year after sowing. It can be used in borders, but also grown in large flower pots on, for example, the balcony.
