Cold-hardy Shasta Daisies

Shasta Daisies are considered by many gardeners as the showiest and most reliable perennial in the summer garden. Shasta’s cool summer look with their air of innocence lifts the spirit of any garden. The saddest day in the garden is when the Shasta Daisies are cut down for they leave the garden looking forlorn and drab without the happy sparkling “pops” of white Shasta Daisies

Leucanthrmum, Shasta Daisy, ‘Alaska’, is a classic perennial. and has proven since it was first introduced in 1901 to be the best Leucanthemum for the cooler high mountain gardens of the west. ‘Alaska’ as its name infers is hardy in the chill of Alaska and grows nicely in the unrelenting heat of Arizona which pretty much covers the entire west. Its adaptability to a variety of environments like tolerating dry or clay soils and blooming in both sun and partial shade gardens has made ‘Alaska’ a very popular Shasta Daisy. In turn, this makes it easily available in Garden Centers or nurseries.

Shasta Daisy, ‘Alaska’ s is a heavy bloomer with large golden centered discs surrounded by long single rays of snowy white. The three-inch blooms top the ends of strong stems that do not reach their forty-inch height potential when growing in higher elevations but forms a stiff stemmed clump with shorter thirty-inch and wide plants that are totally dependable. ‘Alaska’ unlike many cultivars is not patented so can be allowed to drop their seed and populate huge colonies with the freshness of their pristine flowers. Their seedlings will have a colder hardiness than the Mother plant but will not grow as uniform.

Shasta Daisies have always symbolized an enchanting friendliness. Many gardeners grow Shasta Daisies because of the nostalgia of remembering how charming they were in their Mothers or grandmother’s garden but whatever the reason these delightful perennials promise to “love you” bringing their own brand of happiness to every garden.