Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte,
Bugwood.org
Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s): Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Listed by:
Invasive Plant Atlas of the US: 1
Federal Noxious Weed: 0
TDA Noxious Weed: 0
TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species: 0
Description: Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) is a prostrate herb with stems that sprout laterally from a creeping rootstock. When in flower, the plant?s height ranges from one to three feet. The white-petaled flower-like inflorescences have yellow centers. Leaves are dark green on both sides, one to two inches long, smooth, and pinnately lobed or toothed. The number of flower stalks ranges from one to forty per plant.
History: It is believed to have been introduced into North America in the mid-1700s. It is noted by Fernald (1903) that by 1785 this species was already well established around the Boston area. It is currently used as an ornamental, and is it often sold commercially in seed packets labeled as wildflower seed.
Biology & Spread: Ox-eye daisy spreads through abundant seed production and vegetatively by rooting underground stems (rhizomes) (Griswold 1985). Seeds have no special adaptations to aid dispersal, but are small and fall to the ground up to two meters from the parent plant. When the flowerheads are dry, the seeds drop or are shattered easily by touch or movement. Water, human and animal foot traffic, and cultivating and earth-moving machinery can carry seeds into new areas.
Ecological Threat: Ox-eye daisy can be a serious weed in many crops such as barley (Hordeum vulgare), flax (Linum usitatissimum), oats (Avena sativa), oilseed rape (Brassica napus), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), wheat (Triticum species) in Canada.
It displaces native plant species, growing so densely it excludes other vegetation. While not considered poisonous to cows, it does impart a disagreeable taste to their milk. It is difficult to control or eradicate because of its large seedbank, long viability of seed, and ability to resprout if not completely removed.
US Habitat: In pastures and meadows it can form dense stands which can outcompete native flora and may reduce the diversity of natural vegetation or pasture quality.
Distribution
US Nativity: Introduced to U.S.
Native Origin: Europe
US States: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK,OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
Resembles/Alternatives:
Management: Ox-eye daisy produces a large number of seed and can also regenerate from fragments of rhizome which makes control of this species difficult.
Chemical: IT is not readily controlled by herbicides that are safe to use in mixed pasture or wild vegetation. 2,4-D, mecoprop and MCPA are only effective in relatively high doses and may require a mixture with metsulfuron, picloram, dicamba, tribenuron, bentazon, clopyralid or thifensulfuron. The latter three are among the more selective in legumes. Glyphosate is effective but non-selective.
USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.
Listing Source
Texas Department ofAgriculture Noxious Plant List
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Prohibited Exotic Species
Invaders Program
Federal Noxious Weed
Union of Concerned Scientists
United States Forest Service Southern Research Station
Text References
University of California (http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=59&surveynumber=182)
Holm L, Doll J, Holm E, Pancho J, Herberger J, 1997. World Weeds. Natural Histories and Distribution. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Data Source
https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.13357
Last Updated: 2024-02-05 by ARMO, TISI