Ox-Eye Daisy, Marguerite
Leucanthemum vulgare

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae

What it is like

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.

Leucanthemum vulgare is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 0.6

Where it is found

A common weed of grassy fields on all the better types of soil, avoiding acid soils and shade.

Europe, including Britain, from Lapland south and east to the Mediterranean and Siberia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Leaves - raw or cooked. The young spring shoots are finely chopped and added to salads. Rather pungent, they should be used sparingly or mixed with other salad plants. Root - raw. Used in spring.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The whole plant, and especially the flowers, is antispasmodic, antitussive, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, tonic and vulnerary. It is harvested in May and June then dried for later use. The plant has been employed successfully in the treatment of whooping cough, asthma and nervous excitability. Externally it is used as a lotion on bruises, wounds, ulcers and some cutaneous diseases. A decoction of the dried flowers and stems has been used as a wash for chapped hands. A distilled water made from the flowers is an effective eye lotion in the treatment of conjunctivitis.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.

Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.

Other

Rating: 2

Groundcover and Specialist Nectary. Landscape Uses:Ground cover, Massing. Special Features:Invasive, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Easily grown in a good garden soil in a sunny position. Prefers a rich soil. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c. The whole plant is permeated with an acrid juice, making it obnoxious to insects. The flowers have a smell like stale perspiration. Grows well in the summer meadow but may need some help in maintaining itself. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length .

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Best place to grow: Meadow;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 3-9

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum.