Oxeye Daisy

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum

Weed Description
A perennial from rhizomes with characteristic daisy-like flowers. Oxeye daisy is primaily a weed of turfgrass, lawns, roadsides, and nursery crops. It is found throughout the United States.

Leaves
Plants initially develop as a basal rosette. Lower rosette leaves occur on petioles and are from 1 1/2 to 6 inches long. Rosette leaves have rounded teeth or lobes and are widest at the apex and taper to the base. Leaves that occur along the flowering stem are without petioles (sessile), lanceolate in outline, and have smaller rounded teeth or lobes. Leaves become progressively smaller up the flowering stem. All leaves are alternate and without hairs.

Stems
Erect, usually unbranched, usually around 1 foot in height, and hairless.

Flowers
Occur singly at the ends of stems. Flowers normally bloom from June to July in Virginia. Individual flower heads range from 1 1/4 to 2 inches in diameter and consist of 20 to 30 white outer petals (ray flowers) that are 10 to 15 mm long and many yellow inner flowers (disk flowers) in the center.

Fruit
An achene that is brown or black in color.

Roots
A fibrous root system with rhizomes.

Identifying Characteristics
Plants that develop initially as a basal rosette with leaves that are hairless with rounded teeth or lobes. Additionally, this plant has characteristic flowers that distinguish it from most other species. Mayweed Chamomile (Anthemis cotula) and White Heath Aster (Aster pilosus) have similar flowers, however both of these weeds have very finely divided foliage unlike oxeye daisy. Additionally, Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) has similar flowers, but has leaves with toothed margins that are sparingly hairy unlike those of oxeye daisy.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Oxeye Daisy

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum