# oxeye daisy (*Leucanthemum vulgare*) The oxeye daisy is a cheerful flower with white petals and a bright yellow center. It grows in fields and gardens, bringing smiles to everyone who sees it! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 59 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** White Daisy ![oxeye daisy](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424665/objects/1830.jpg) ## Appearance The oxeye daisy has classic white petals radiating around a bright yellow, button-like center. Its slender stems bear a single flower, standing tall above its lobed, dark green basal leaves. It often forms cheerful clusters. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Leucanthemum ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name, Leucanthemum, means 'white flower' in Greek. - Making 'daisy chains' from its stems is a fun, ancient tradition for kids! - Often seen as a symbol of innocence and new beginnings in folklore. - The yellow center is actually hundreds of tiny individual flowers, called florets! ## Special abilities - **Seed Launcher:** Oxeye daisy can produce thousands of tiny seeds, helping it rapidly colonize open fields and spread its cheerful blooms far and wide. - **Underground Spreader:** Oxeye daisy has creeping rhizomes that help it spread underground, forming dense patches to claim its territory. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Oxeye daisy has a prominent yellow disk and white ray florets, acting as a clear landing strip to attract many insect pollinators. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — collects nectar and pollen from its blooms - **Eaten by:** Domestic sheep (*Ovis aries*) — grazes on its leaves and shoots in pastures - **Eats:** Tarnished plant bug (*Lygus lineolaris*) — feeds on flower heads and developing seeds ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before picking flowers. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify oxeye daisy? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is oxeye daisy? 30-90 cm ### How wide does oxeye daisy spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on oxeye daisy? 2-6 cm ### When does oxeye daisy bloom? Late spring to late summer ### Is oxeye daisy edible? Yes ### Is oxeye daisy toxic? None ### What is oxeye daisy's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Boerner Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boerner-botanical-gardens) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Connecticut College Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/connecticut-college-arboretum) — Connecticut, US · Botanical Garden - [Field Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/field-farm) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Hempstead Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hempstead-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see oxeye daisy](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oxeye-daisy) ## Watch - [Play video: oxeye daisy](https://www.snappit.app/videos/oxeye-daisy) - [YouTube](https://www.snappit.app/rejected_by_user) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Oxeye Daisy: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oxeye-daisy)