Ox-eye daisy is native to Europe. It is a typical grassland perennial wildflower. You can find growing in a variety of plant communities including meadows and fields. The species is widely naturalized in many parts of the world. It is considered to be an invasive species in more than forty countries. It is also known by the common names ox-eye daisy, dog daisy, field daisy, Marguerite, moon daisy, moon-penny, poor-land penny, poverty daisy and white daisy.
Ox-eye Daisy spreads by seeds and by shallow, creeping rhizomes. A mature plant can produce up to 26,000 seeds. Seeds are spread by animals, vehicles, water and contaminated agricultural produce. Amazingly, some seeds remain viable for up to nearly forty years. Ox-eye daisy commonly invades lawns. It is difficult to control or eradicate, since a new plant can regenerate from rhizome fragments.
Oxeye Daisy is not particular about its habitat. Thus it seems to thrive just about anywhere. Lawns, gardens, roadsides and fields are all common environments to host this invasive weed.
An important part of oxeye daisy control is pulling up or cutting down the plant before it produces seeds. The plants have shallow root systems and are easy to pull. Mow lawns that are infested with these perennials regularly so they never have a chance to flower. Mowing causes the leaves to spread outward and flatten, so that if you later apply an herbicide, the leaves have a broader surface area over which to absorb the chemical. The best defense is to maintain a thick healthy lawn. Cultural practices such as proper mowing, irrigation and a Lawncare Program will help control this invasive weed.
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