I have a love/hate relationship with the Shasta daisies. They need dividing yearly and need to be trimmed back and/or dead headed so that they don't reseed and revert back to the wild variety. I also have trouble with them laying down. Not really flopping over just laying over other plants, kind of bully-like if they aren't in full sun throughout the day. I find I have to corral them with cages. Their height makes them a stand out. They are one of my easiest (grow well) and hardest (need yearly division and staking) perennials to keep. Shasta Daisies ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Shasta ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )
Jewell, I agree with you & I love your description of them! 'Bully-like' and flopping over'. Such unreasonable characters! I don't always divide mine every year, but they respond very well when I do. Gives them a whole new lease on life. I have a support for mine that I use every year, just push it into the ground as they are growing & they grow up through it & hide it. The years that I haven't gotten the support there in time, I am left to try to coral them with twine, etc. Not very satisfactory. But, yes, they do provide such a bright spot in the garden, like headlights shining up. I think they are worth it. ( photo / image / picture from Cayuga Morning's Garden )
We have a very similar daisy here called Ox-eye daisy. I have the same problems you do with your shastas but I still look forward to them flowering every year.
They are beautiful when in full bloom. I had a Shasta in the bed by our front door. I finally got rid of it last autumn because I was tired of it looking hideous once the blooms began to fade, and the leaves would wilt after only a single day of not being watered (the other plants in that bed were just fine ) in summer. Maybe if I get a place to put another, Ill try to find a more heat-tolerant type.
I agree!!! I tried for years to get them to grow and felt like a failure. Everyone in town can grow Shasta daisies but me :-? Then, for some unknown reason, I was overrun with them I have dug and divided and moved and gave away till I'm down to 2 and that is just fine!
I love the look of Shasta Daisies and have bunches of them. But I face the same problems - flopping over, reseeding (like weeds)
