Today’s featured plant is the Ox Eye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare. It was previously known as Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. We share where to find this wild plant, how to identify it, and how to safely use it for food and medicine.
Range and Identification of Ox Eye Daisy
The ox eye daisy is native to Europe, but naturalized in much of the world, including throughout North America. Many areas classify it as a noxious weed because it spreads and adapts so well.
It can grow in wide variety of soils, including poor, heavy soil. It grows along roadsides, in pastures, and in disturbed soil – including my garden. I use them as companion plants, but don’t advise letting them seed out. Deadhead before the flowers mature completely and cultivate around the plant to reduce spreading.
The seeds remain viable for over 40 years, and they can quickly take over an area. They also remain viable after passing through the digestive tract of ruminants, which is another way they can spread.
The plant is a perennial, so it will come back year after year. The roots form a dense mass and can be hard to remove. READ FULL ARTICLE