Introduction
Oxeye Daisy is native to Europe and was introduced to the United States as a contaminant in seed and as an ornamental. It was quick to escape cultivation and has since been a common weed. It was not only grown for its beauty but also for its natural remedies associated with whooping cough, asthma, and other coughs. The leaves can also be eaten in salads.
Oxeye Daisy is found in most states but is less common in the south. It is listed as a noxious weed in Washington, Wyoming, and Montana. It was first reported in Montana in 1890 and its distribution across the state is still increasing.
Concerns
Cattle avoid eating oxeye daisy and therefore it has become widespread throughout pasturelands. Stands of this plant can become very dense and displace native vegetation. It has the ability to form dense stands because a single plant can produce up to 26,000 seeds per year and each one of those seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 40 years. This plant also has the ability to spread by roots.
Identification
Oxeye daisy is a perennial plant that looks like a typical daisy, with 20-30 white petals that radiate out from a yellow center. This plant can grow to be 1-3 feet tall. The leaves progressively get smaller in size the higher up the stem they are. The basal leaves and the lower stem leaves are lance shaped with toothed margins and the leaves on the upper stem are alternately arranged, narrow, and often clasp the stem. Scentless chamomile and shasta daisy look very similar to oxeye daisy but scentless chamomile is an annual and shasta daisy grows to be 6-12 inches taller than oxeye daisy.
What can you do?
Proper management is often neglected because oxeye daisy is a showy, attractive plant. It is often included in wildflower seed mixes so consumers need to be sure to read labels. Mowing can be beneficial if it is done as soon as flowers appear which will reduce seed production. If mowing is the only means of control it needs to be repeated throughout the growing season because each mowing many stimulate shoot growth and subsequent flowerings will occur. This plant can be dug up but all of the root system must be removed.  This process will have to be continued for several years because of the seed viability.  Herbicides can be a very useful tool in the fight against oxeye daisy if the proper chemical is used at the proper rate. Horses, sheep, and goats will readily graze on daisy so they can also play a part in controlling this weed. If you have any questions about Oxeye daisy or any other noxious weed please call your local weed district.
Visit the MWCA Weed ID pages for additional information and pictures of oxeye daisy.
This series of articles was developed by Ravalli County. If you would like to use these articles please contact Ravalli County Weed District Weed Coordinator at (406) 777-5842.