Leucanthemum superbum Kings Crown - Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum superbum 'Kings Crown' is a variety of large daisy with a very compact habit, whose large double and tousled flowers quickly change from pale yellow to white and yellow, creating a very pretty display.  This perennial blooms all summer in moist soil. Very easy to grow in the ground but also in pots, this plant will easily bring a touch of madness to your borders, patios and bouquets. 

Leucanthemum are herbaceous perennial plants that belong to the Asteraceae family. Leucanthemum x superbum is a robust hybrid dating back to 1890 resulting from the cross-breeding of different daisy species such as Leucanthemum vulgare, Leucanthemum maximum and Leucanthemum lacustre.

'Kings Crown' is a very recent selection. The plant forms a clump about 25 cm (10in) in height for the foliage, 30 cm (12in) in flowers, which spreads in width with a moderately fast growth rate. The floral stems of this variety are short and sturdy and do not require staking. The lush foliage persists more or less in winter. Flowering takes place from June to August in average climates, earlier in the south. It takes the form of large solitary heads of 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, whose crown is composed of finely cut and fringed ligules, like a tousled pompom. This crown is tinted pale yellow at first, then becomes bicolour, white on the periphery, more yellow around the centre, which is also yellow. The foliage, arranged on the lower two-thirds of the stems, consists of large ovate-lanceolate leaves with toothed edges, dark green in colour. The plant reaches full maturity in five years.

 
In daisies, one does not find extravagant colors, but it is the detail and the structure of the flowers which truly brings uniqueness to the garden. Leucanthemum 'Kings Crown', so suitable for making bouquets, will be perfect in a border or in a meadow in a slightly wild corner. Accompany its flowering with that of cosmos, combine them with peonies, blue lupins, bellflowers, salvias or perennial geraniums, or gaillardias for example. Something very new that will nevertheless remind us of our grandmothers' gardens, overflowing with indestructible perennials.