A
member of the sunflower family, Oxeye daisy is an erect perennial plant
with white ray and yellow disk flowers which bloom from June through
August. This seemingly “innocent” little daisy has escaped gardens and
is quickly taking over the intermountain west. Oxeye daisy was introduced
from Eurasia for its vigor (one plant can produce anywhere from 1,300
to 26,000 seeds), it spread rapidly in mountain towns such as Eldora.
It prefers roadsides, meadows, and disturbed areas. So, next time you
take a leisurely drive through the mountains, look closely at those
pretty daisies, they just might be an invader silently destroying our
native ecosystems.
A close
relative, Shasta daisy (Chrysantheum maximum), is also an introduced
plant that may be aggressive under certain conditions but is preferable
to Oxeye daisy. Alternatives to planting Oxeye daisy include native
daisies (Erigeron spp), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), and Blanketflower
(Gaillardia aristata).
