Oxeye Daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare, family Asteraceae
A white-petalled wildflower of meadows, now found across much of the world
The oxeye daisy is a perennial wildflower with white petals and a yellow centre, native to Europe and temperate Asia. It grows in meadows, fields, and roadsides, and is now naturalised in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. People use its buds as a caper substitute and its dried flowers for herbal tea. It is the national flower of Denmark and Latvia.
- National flower of Denmark and Latvia
- Unopened buds can be used as capers
- Blooms from late spring to autumn
- Widely naturalised and often invasive
- Produces up to 26,000 seeds per plant
What does Oxeye Daisy look like?
The oxeye daisy is a perennial herb that can grow up to 80 cm tall. Its leaves are largest at the base, toothed or lobed, and get smaller up the stem. Each plant may have up to three flower heads, each 2 to 7.5 cm wide, with 15 to 40 white ray florets (petals) around a yellow disc. The flowers have a faint scent similar to valerian. The plant spreads by creeping rhizomes and produces many small, ribbed seeds.
Where does Oxeye Daisy come from?
Leucanthemum vulgare is native to Europe and temperate regions of Asia, including Turkey and Georgia. It was first described in 1778 by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. The plant has spread widely through gardens and disturbed ground, becoming naturalised and often invasive in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It grows in grasslands, meadows, and open woods, preferring damp, heavy soils with good rainfall.
When and how Oxeye Daisy blooms
The oxeye daisy blooms from late spring to autumn, with flowering heads appearing from May to October. It thrives in sunny or partly shaded spots with moist, average soil. The plant spreads both by seed and by shallow, creeping rhizomes. Gardeners often deadhead old blooms to encourage more flowers. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens and meadows, and can regenerate from rhizome fragments.
How Oxeye Daisy is used
Unopened flower buds of the oxeye daisy can be marinated and used like capers. In southern Palestine, dried flowers are used to make herbal tea. The plant is grown as an ornamental in gardens and meadows. It is also recognised as the national flower of Denmark and Latvia. However, it can cause allergies and is considered a weed in pastures and some protected areas.
Kinds of Oxeye Daisy
The oxeye daisy is similar to the shasta daisy, which has larger flower heads, and to stinking chamomile, which has smaller heads. There are cultivated varieties such as 'May Queen' that flower early. The species was once classified under the Chrysanthemum genus.
What Oxeye Daisy means
Since 1987, the oxeye daisy or marguerite daisy has been Denmark's national flower, chosen for its native status. In Latvia, it was selected as the national flower in 1994 by popular vote. The plant is a symbol of meadows and summer in these countries. It is also known for its high pollen production, supporting pollinators in wildflower meadows.
Where Oxeye Daisy is used and seen
Traditions that use it
Where to see Oxeye Daisy
Questions people ask about Oxeye Daisy
Where does the oxeye daisy come from?
The oxeye daisy is native to Europe and temperate regions of Asia, including Turkey and Georgia. It has spread to many other parts of the world, often becoming naturalised or invasive.
What does the oxeye daisy look like?
It is a perennial herb up to 80 cm tall, with white petals around a yellow centre. Each plant can have up to three flower heads, and the leaves are toothed and largest at the base.
How is the oxeye daisy used?
People use its unopened flower buds as a caper substitute, and in southern Palestine, its dried flowers are used to make herbal tea. It is also grown as an ornamental plant.
What does the oxeye daisy symbolise?
The oxeye daisy is the national flower of Denmark and Latvia, chosen for its native presence and popularity. It is a symbol of meadows and summer in these countries.
Is the oxeye daisy considered a weed?
Yes, in many regions outside its native range, the oxeye daisy is considered invasive. It spreads quickly, can displace native plants, and is difficult to control in pastures and lawns.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Leucanthemum vulgare | ox-eye daisyRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Leucanthemum vulgare on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Leucanthemum vulgare", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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