Oxeye daisy

Scientific name: Leucanthemum vulgare

Often growing in swathes along a roadside or field margin, the oxeye daisy is just as at home in traditional hay meadows. The large, white, daisy-like flowers are easy to identify.

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 60cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

June to September

About

A typical grassland plant, the oxeye daisy thrives on roadside verges and waste ground, as well as in traditional hay meadows and along field margins. Its large blooms appear from July to September and are so bright that they appear to 'glow' in the evening, hence the other common names of 'moon daisy' and 'moonpenny'.

How to identify

The oxeye daisy is easy to identify by its large, round flower heads that appear on single, tall stems. It has spoon-shaped leaves at its base and thin, jagged leaves along the stem.

Distribution

Widespread.

Habitats

Did you know?

The petal-plucking game, 'He loves me; he loves me not', is thought to have started with the oxeye daisy, and is now a common children's activity. While thinking of a suitor, each petal is plucked until the answer of whether love is possible becomes apparent. However, each 'petal' is actually an individual flower as oxeye daisies have composite flower heads consisting of yellow 'disc florets', surrounded by 'ray florets' (the 'petals').