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Leucanthemum vulgare - Lam.

Common Name Ox-Eye Daisy, Marguerite
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 3-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats A common weed of grassy fields on all the better types of soil, avoiding acid soils and shade[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Lapland south and east to the Mediterranean and Siberia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-Eye Daisy, Marguerite


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysanthemum_leucanthemum.jpg
Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-Eye Daisy, Marguerite
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Prazak

 

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Summary

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


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum.

Habitats

 Meadow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 115]. The young spring shoots are finely chopped and added to salads[4, 7, 183]. Rather pungent[9], they should be used sparingly or mixed with other salad plants[183]. Root - raw[5]. Used in spring[207].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Antispasmodic  Antitussive  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Emmenagogue  Tonic  Vulnerary

The whole plant, and especially the flowers[7], is antispasmodic, antitussive, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, tonic and vulnerary[4, 7, 21]. It is harvested in May and June then dried for later use[4]. The plant has been employed successfully in the treatment of whooping cough, asthma and nervous excitability[4]. Externally it is used as a lotion on bruises, wounds, ulcers and some cutaneous diseases[4, 7]. A decoction of the dried flowers and stems has been used as a wash for chapped hands[257]. A distilled water made from the flowers is an effective eye lotion in the treatment of conjunctivitis[7].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

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

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground Cover  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a good garden soil in a sunny position[187]. Prefers a rich soil[17]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. The whole plant is permeated with an acrid juice, making it obnoxious to insects[4]. The flowers have a smell like stale perspiration[245]. Grows well in the summer meadow but may need some help in maintaining itself[24]. 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 [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Leucanthemum maximumShasta Daisy, Max chrysanthemumPerennial0.8 5-9  LMHNM00 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Lam.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Klaus Dichtel   Wed Apr 10 18:46:12 2002

I tasted this spring the root as said by author "5": Fiddly, hard to clean from the sand, of course, (author "9":)pungent and hard to chew...

Klaus Dichtel   Wed Jan 22 10:50:36 2003

The young shoots appear in autumn and remain green after the older overground parts disappear with the frosts. They remain green even down to at least -19°C, but are quite small (about 2-4cm squared). But they`re few, too, and so it doesn`t seem effective to me to cultivate bed-space for them.

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Subject : Leucanthemum vulgare  
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