Wildflower/Perennial
Shasta daisy
Leucanthemum x superbum · Asteraceae
Also called: Shasta daisy, Superbum daisy
Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a moderate-water wildflower/perennial well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun in winter/spring.
Shasta daisy at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun in winter/spring; in Tucson's low desert give it afternoon or filtered shade to protect it from intense summer sun and heat.
- Mature size
- 1-3 ft tall and 1-2 ft wide.
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast.
- Bloom
- Classic white rays around a yellow central disk; some cultivars are double, frilled, or pale yellow., Late spring into early summer in Tucson; bloom typically declines in the hottest months.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold-hardy and frost-tolerant in USDA 9a-9b; the real challenge in Tucson is summer heat, not cold. Foliage can scorch and the plant may be short-lived in intense low-desert sun.
- Soil
- Prefers fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil amended with organic matter; tolerates alkaline soils but appreciates improved garden beds.
- Native range
- Garden hybrid (a Luther Burbank cross of European/Eurasian Leucanthemum species). Not native to North America or the Sonoran Desert.
- Best used as
- Cottage and perennial borders, Cut flowers, Pollinator garden, Mass plantings in part-shade beds, Containers
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; deer tend to avoid it.
- Toxicity
- Considered non-toxic to mildly irritating; large ingestion may cause mild stomach upset in pets, and sap can irritate sensitive skin. Not a serious hazard to kids or pets.
How to grow Shasta daisy in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Among the thirstier perennials on this list. Keep soil consistently moist, not soggy: water deeply 2 times per week in the warm season and weekly in winter; mulch to conserve moisture and cool the roots.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Moderate feeder. Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring and again after the first bloom flush to support flowering.
Pruning & care
Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering. Cut back flower stems after bloom and remove tired foliage; divide clumps every 2-3 years in fall to maintain vigor.
Notes
The least desert-adapted plant on this list - it needs the most water and protection from afternoon sun to thrive in Tucson, and often performs as a cool-season/spring perennial that struggles in peak summer. Best in microclimates with morning sun and afternoon shade.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum