Many of the summer flowering perennials in our garden are starting to flower now, among them the Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum). There are a huge range of daisy-like flowers available and they always seem to be good value as well as being easy to associate with other plants in borders and excellent for cutting!
Shasta Daisies have been around for years and produce their yellow centred, white flowers for weeks at midsummer. I am especially fond of the shaggy petalled variety ‘Aglaia’ which adds texture to the middle of one of our sunny borders in front of a clump of Molinia ‘Skyracer’ which has yet to flower. Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’ is a stocky, dwarf form to about knee high, with sturdy flower stems and single flowers that are reminiscent of Ox Eye Daisies, the annual wild flower that can still be seen on verges and road embankments. As well as being easy on the eye for passers-by, these plants are loved by bees and many other insects; their flat flowers are a perfect landing pad for foraging pollinators enticed by the rich yellow centres.
The Cone Flower or Echinacea is another magnet for bees and butterflies with huge, dusky pink blooms that have a sweet scent and a prickly, nectar rich center. The flowers are produced in late summer and autumn with the added bonus of seed heads that can be left for the birds. They are long lived plants in the garden, slowly making spreading clumps in sun and moisture retentive soil as well as producing seedlings that seem to place themselves in perfect positions. The greenish white flowers of Echinacea ‘White Star’ look beautiful with the boldly variegated grass Carex ‘Everest’ making evergreen mounds at the front of the border.
Daisies are the perfect partner for grasses – whether this comes from the ‘original’ Bellis perennis being a lawn weed I am not sure, but another favorite combination of mine are Michaelmas Daisies (Asters) with Stipa tenuissima (Feather Grass) which turns golden yellow through the autumn – the perfect foil for brightly coloured Asters such as the wine red ‘Bahamas’ or smoky blue ‘Samoa’.
Some of the most reliable late summer and autumn color in our garden comes from Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ with bright golden daisies that have pointed petals and a brown central cone that reminds me of the velvety bit on a cats nose! These plants have spread well in moist soil and are smothered in flowers for weeks from August until well into autumn. Pieces are easily dug up in spring and moved to other areas to inject some late colour, as well as being essential to Mrs McGregor’s cutting garden!
Until the ‘autumn’ daisies begin their show, signalling shorter days and cooler mornings, I am enjoying with my summer display of half hardy daisies in pots, brightening the patios and focal points in the garden. Osteospermums in vibrant rusty reds and terracotta colours are amongst my favourites this year – let’s hope for some more sun so that the flowers will not sulk and stay shut!