The Shasta daisy, or Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Crazy Daisy,’ is a classic perennial flower that makes any garden look good. With its pretty white petals and bright yellow centers, it’s easy to see why gardeners have loved this hybrid flower for more than 100 years.
A Brief History of the Shasta Daisy
In the 1890s, American horticulturist Luther Burbank crossed several daisy species, including the ox-eye daisy, to make a new hybrid with bigger flowers and more strength. He named it after Mount Shasta in Northern California, where he did a lot of his work breeding plants.
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.
Breeders have added many new types of the original Shasta daisy over the years to give gardeners more options. “Crazy Daisy” is one of the most well-known because of its many twisted, fluffy petals.
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. Light frosts won’t hurt it, but very hot summers will make it fade faster. 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 are quilled, frilled, twisted, and flat, among other shapes. When the plant is fully bloomed, this makes for an amazingly lush and chaotic look.
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?
This is a pretty hardy perennial that grows huge displays of mostly fully double white flowers with a yellow eye and quill-shaped 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?
Crazy Daisy, Leucanthemum x superbum, is a great hardy perennial that blooms with pretty white flowers from early summer to fall.
Do crazy daisies like sun or shade?
Position in full sun, in moist but well-drained moderately fertile soil.