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Oxeye Daisy

Leucanthemum vulgare

Last reviewed: October 2026

Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Photo: C T Johansson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Toxicity unknown

Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Oxeye Daisy is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats at a slight level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Pollinators

bees, beetles, flies

Native alternatives to Oxeye Daisy

Oxeye Daisy is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.

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Oxeye daisy produces classic white daisy flowers with bright yellow centers from late spring through summer. This European perennial forms spreading clumps of dark green foliage and can naturalize readily in favorable conditions.

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How to care for Oxeye Daisy, by region

How to care for Oxeye Daisy where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.

Care guidance last updated: October 2026

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Erie Drift Plain (includes Buffalo, NY)

Year-round

Ox-eye daisy likes sun and dry to medium soil and takes little care.

  • Full sun is best, a little afternoon shade is fine.
  • It handles dry, well-drained soil.
  • It spreads by seed and roots, so give it room.

Deadhead often so the clump stays tidy and seeds less.

Fall

Cut back after flowering ends.

  • Remove old stems before seeds scatter.
  • Pull stray seedlings from nearby beds.

Winter

Nothing needed over a Buffalo winter.

  • Leave it dormant.
  • Check where it has spread when spring returns.

Spring

Divide crowded clumps as growth starts.

  • Divide every 2 to 3 years.
  • Pull stray seedlings you do not want.

Summer

Deadhead to keep flowers coming.

  • Snip spent blooms.
  • Water only in long dry spells.

Sources: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Leucanthemum vulgare

In an HOA neighborhood

Oxeye Daisy takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Aggressive spreader that can overtake other plants
  • May look weedy and unkempt to neighbors

Wildlife value

The abundant flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators including native bees, beetles, and flies throughout the long blooming season.

Common questions

How much sun does Oxeye Daisy need?
Oxeye Daisy grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Oxeye Daisy bloom?
Oxeye Daisy blooms in May, June, July, and August.
Is Oxeye Daisy toxic to livestock?
Oxeye Daisy is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
What pollinators does Oxeye Daisy attract?
Oxeye Daisy draws bees, beetles, and flies.
Is Oxeye Daisy HOA-friendly?
Oxeye Daisy takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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