Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Crazy Daisy’, commonly known as the Shasta daisy, is a classic perennial flower that brings cheer to any garden With its beautiful white petals and bright yellow centers, it’s easy to see why this hybrid flower has been popular with gardeners for over 100 years
A Brief History of the Shasta Daisy
The Shasta daisy originated in the 1890s when American horticulturist Luther Burbank crossed several daisy species, including the ox-eye daisy, to create a new hybrid with larger blooms and more vigor He named his creation after Mount Shasta in Northern California where he did much of his plant breeding work
Burbank introduced the Shasta daisy to the public in 1901 Its long flowering season, ease of care, and tendency to multiply made it an instant hit The flowers were shipped all over the U.S. on railroad lines, allowing the cheerful perennial to spread quickly.
Over time, breeders have introduced many cultivars of the original Shasta daisy to provide gardeners with more choices. ‘Crazy Daisy’ is one of the most popular for its twisted, fluffy petals and proliferation of blooms.
Growing Conditions for ‘Crazy Daisy’
‘Crazy Daisy’ thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Like most perennials, it appreciates consistent moisture but needs good drainage. It can tolerate short periods of drought once established.
This daisy grows best in zones 4-9. It can survive light frosts but will fade more quickly in very hot summer temperatures. Afternoon shade helps prolong blooming in hot climates.
Prepare the soil by mixing in compost or other organic matter. Space plants 18-24 inches apart to allow for growth. ‘Crazy Daisy’ spreads slowly, growing into a bushy mound up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Care for ‘Crazy Daisy’ Shasta Daisies
Caring for ‘Crazy Daisy’ is easy. It requires minimal care to provide nonstop flowers from early summer into fall.
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Water regularly the first year until plants become established. Mature plants are quite drought tolerant but bloom best with weekly watering.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring to support flowering.
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Prune spent flower stems back to the foliage to encourage reblooming. Cutting plants back halfway in midsummer also prompts new growth.
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Divide clumps every 2-3 years in spring or fall to maintain vigor. Replant the divisions for more daisies.
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Monitor for common issues like powdery mildew, aphids, and leaf miners. Remove affected foliage promptly.
How to Use ‘Crazy Daisy’ in the Garden
With its prolific white blooms and easygoing nature, ‘Crazy Daisy’ is a gardener’s dream. It provides season-long color and texture for flower beds, borders, containers, and cutting gardens.
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Plant in groups or swaths for a high-impact display. Allow it to mingle with other perennials like coneflowers, daylilies, and ornamental grasses.
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Use it as a flowering ground cover on slopes or to crowd out weeds. The spreading habit fills in bare spots.
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Mix with annuals and biennials that bloom in spring and summer. ‘Crazy Daisy’ carries the garden into fall.
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Add to wildflower meadows, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and open sunny sites.
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Grow in patio pots and window boxes. Keep soil moist and fertilize regularly in containers.
The Cheery Nature of ‘Crazy Daisy’
With its wild, fluffy double blooms and vigorous nature, it’s easy to see why gardeners have a soft spot for ‘Crazy Daisy’. This carefree perennial delivers cheerful color all season long with very little work required. No garden should be without this iconic, mood-boosting flower. Give Shasta daisies a try this year – your inner gardener and the pollinators will thank you!
Description / Crazy Daisy Shasta Daisy Seeds
No two blooms are just alike on this incredible just-for-fun shasta daisy. The 2½-inch blooms are fully doublein fact, theyre so crammed with petals you might be tempted to call them tripleand boast solid white petals around a small, buttery center. Beyond that, every bloom is distinct. The petals take just about every form you can imagine, from quilled to frilled to twisted to flat! On a plant in full bloom, this creates an unbelievably lush, chaotic effect.
The plant reaches 24 to 28 inches tall, making it a great size for beds, borders, or even containers. A hardy perennial, it is long-lived and very vigorous, blooming in great abundance all summer long. The flowers are triggered by warm weather, so once the heat begins, so do the daisies. And they wont stop until the first cold snap. Start seeds indoors or sow direct anytime between early spring and up to 2 months before first frost. They do best in full sun and are not too fussy about soil type.
Zones: 5-9 (10 on West Coast)
| SKU | 00558 |
|---|---|
| Genus | Leucanthemum |
| Species | x superbum |
| Variety | Crazy Daisy |
| Product Classification | Perennials, Seeds |
| Sun / Shade | Full Sun, Part Shade |
| Bloom Season Start | Early Summer |
| Bloom Season End | Late Summer |
| Bloom Color | Cream, White |
| Max Bloom Size | 2.50 |
| Habit | Upright |
| Mature Width in Inches | 24.00 |
| Mature Height in Inches | 28.00 |
| Moisture Level | Moist, well-drained |
| Soil Type | Normal, loamy |
| Characteristics | Direct Sow, Double Blooms, Flower |
| Uses | Beds, Containers, Cut Flowers, Ornamental, Outdoor |
| Zone | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Discount Exempt | No |
Leucanthemum ‘Freak!’ (Shasta Daisy) // Gorgeous Perennial with a Weird Name & Profusion of Flowers
FAQ
How tall do Leucanthemum crazy daisies get?
An attractive hardy perennial producing huge displays of mainly fully double white flowers with a yellow eye and quill type petals. Flowers Jun to Jul. Height 60-70cm.
Is Leucanthemum x Superbum invasive?
Invasiveness: Shasta Daisies are not considered invasive.
Do crazy daisies come back every year?
Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Crazy Daisy’ is a superb hardy perennial that produces an abundance of attractive white flowers from early summer to autumn.
Do crazy daisies like sun or shade?
Position in full sun, in moist but well-drained moderately fertile soil.