Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum 'Starburst')
Leucanthemum × superbum 'Starburst' is a superb Shasta daisy, offering showy white blooms from May to August with low maintenance.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’, widely known as the Shasta daisy, is a classic and indispensable herbaceous perennial for the sunny garden. Distinguished by its large, brilliant white flower heads with bright yellow centers, this cultivar brings reliable, striking color throughout the peak summer months. It is valued by gardeners for its robust nature and relatively low demands once established.
This hybrid thrives best when positioned to receive full sunshine and requires average to medium moisture, performing poorly if soils remain waterlogged, especially during winter dormancy. The ‘Starburst’ variation grows impressively tall on rigid stems, making it an excellent structural element that usually resists the need for staking.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal in borders, the Shasta daisy is highly functional, providing excellent material for fresh-cut arrangements. Gardeners who appreciate long-season bloom and classic cottage garden charm will find Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ a cornerstone planting.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 3-4 ft
- Spread: 2-3 ft
- Bloom Time: May to August
- Bloom Description: White rays and yellow center disks
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting the Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ is best done in spring or fall, ensuring the location provides consistently full sun exposure. Success hinges on excellent soil drainage; this perennial cannot tolerate wet feet, particularly in winter, as this can prove fatal. Work compost into average, well-drained soil to provide structure and moderate fertility.
Routine care for this Shasta daisy is minimal. Ensure consistent, though not excessive, watering until the plant is fully established. Deadheading spent flower heads regularly is crucial, as this practice encourages the production of successive blooms throughout the summer season.
To maintain the vigor of your clumps, plan to divide them every two to three years. As plants can be somewhat short-lived, division helps rejuvenate the structure. A helpful end-of-season tip is to cut the stems back down to the basal leaves immediately after the main flowering phase concludes, helping the plant conserve energy for the following year.
Landscape Uses
Shasta daisies provide long-lasting summer bloom and are mainstays of the perennial border, cottage garden and cutting garden. Their bright white faces contrast beautifully against deep green foliage and surrounding plants, establishing them as essential background or mid-border elements.
Consider planting Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ alongside plants that enjoy similar conditions, such as ornamental grasses or sturdy coneflowers (Echinacea). They also integrate seamlessly into rock gardens or can serve as dramatic vertical accents within large containers, provided the drainage in the pot is strictly managed. Because they are excellent and long-lasting fresh cut flowers, position them near the back of the border or close to kitchen access.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
The development of the Shasta daisy involved Luther Burbank who crossed several chrysanthemum and daisy species near Mt. Shasta in the late 1800s to create Leucanthemum × superbum. This superb hybrid produces magnificent, large blooms, sometimes reaching 5 inches in diameter, carried on stems that typically reach 4 feet tall without succumbing to flopping. The genus name derives from Greek words for white flower, perfectly describing this classic bloom structure.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
While generally robust, Leucanthemums like this ‘Starburst’ cultivar can exhibit susceptibility to certain fungal and vascular issues. Watch out for verticillium wilt, various leaf spots, and stem rots, which are often exacerbated by excessively humid conditions or poor air circulation.
Pest pressure is usually low, but occasional infestations by aphids, leaf miners, or mites may occur, particularly during hot, dry periods. Regular inspection and prompt action—using insecticidal soap for soft-bodied pests or ensuring good air movement—will help keep the Shasta daisy healthy. Good soil drainage remains the best preventative measure against most cultural diseases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ suitable for?
The Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Shasta daisy grow?
This specific cultivar typically reaches a height between 3 and 4 feet tall, with a spread spanning 2 to 3 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Shasta daisy need?
For the best performance and maximum summer bloom, this plant requires full sun exposure in the garden.
When does Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ bloom?
The ‘Starburst’ Shasta daisy blooms profusely throughout the summer, from May extending as far as August, displaying classic white rays and yellow center disks.
Conclusion
The exceptional reliability, striking white flowers, and low maintenance requirements make the Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’) a must-have for sunny perennial beds. Its superb performance as a cutting flower adds significant value indoors as well as out. Before planting, confirm your garden falls within USDA Zones 4-9 and ensure your soil drains effectively to guarantee years of classic summer beauty from this excellent hybrid.
Companion Planting
Choosing companions that appreciate similar high-sun, well-drained environments will result in a harmonious border design. Pair the upright habit and white flowers of the Shasta daisy with plants that offer contrasting textures or bloom times. Consider using lavender or salvia for vertical accents that bloom earlier or later, providing continuous visual interest when the Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ fades.
For complementary color, deep purple or blue companions work wonderfully against the crisp white of the daisy. Plants like Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) or deep blue garden phlox offer excellent color harmony right beside your established clumps of Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’.
Propagation Tips
Because Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Starburst’ plants are known to be somewhat short-lived in the garden, regular division is the best method for long-term propagation and maintenance of vigor. Plan to lift and divide established clumps every two to three years, ideally done in early spring before new growth starts or immediately following the major bloom flush in late summer.
When dividing, carefully separate the root ball into smaller sections, ensuring each new piece has a healthy crown and sufficient root structure. Replant these divisions immediately at the same depth they were previously growing, and water them in well. This technique regenerates older clumps and provides you with fresh, vigorous Shasta daisies for other areas of your garden.
