Oxeye Daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare.
Commercially Available
Despite being classified as a noxious weed, this plant is still widely sold in stores! Keep an eye out, and remember that it is illegal to plant and transport noxious weeds in the state of New Mexico.
Class A Noxious Weed
This plant is new to the state and has been designated a Class A Noxious Weed by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.
Agricultural Threat
This plant threatens our state's food security and economy by reducing agriculture yields and/or degrading soil resources.
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Livestock Hazard
This plant presents a threat to the health and/or quality of livestock.
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QUICK FACTS
- Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) are hardy perennials that can thrive in disturbed areas and outcompete native plants, disrupting local ecosystems.
- These plants reach heights of 1-2 feet, feature distinctive white flowers with yellow centers, and have an extensive root system that allows them to spread quickly.
- Found in various environments, from abandoned lots to meadows, oxeye daisies thrive in full sun and are present in every U.S. state, although they are less common in southern regions.
1. Overview
Don’t let its innocent, sunny petals fool you—oxeye daisy is the charming garden guest that overstays its welcome and takes over the neighborhood.
It is not unlikely that you will spot this plant proudly planted (and thriving) in both private and municipal flower boxes. Oxeye daisies have a way of winning over gardeners and landscapers with their charming simplicity. Masters of subterfuge, they quietly slip into our gardens and landscapes, drawn in by their effortless beauty and rugged, resilient nature. At first glance, their bright, cheerful blooms seem harmless, but there’s more to them than meets the eye.
Gardeners often welcome their presence, letting them stay and even encouraging their expansion, attracted by the daisy’s ability to flourish with little care. As oxeye daisies spread, they can invade croplands and pastures where their presence may still be overlooked.
But it’s just a daisy; they can’t be that bad, can they? When unchecked, these daisies can outcompete native plants for resources, disrupting local ecosystems and diminishing biodiversity. While they may add charm to our gardens, their uncontrolled growth can lead to significant challenges for farmers and ranchers.
History of Oxeye Daisy
The fruits of the oxeye daisy connect to the Iron Age and the Roman period, indicating its long-standing presence in European agriculture and landscape. This hardy perennial plant began to increase as a common weed across Europe and the British Isles during the post-glacial era, adapting well to various environments. [1]
It is believed that oxeye daisies were introduced to North America and New Zealand during the early colonial period, likely through contaminated seeds. Over time, they were also grown for ornamental purposes, which helped them spread across the United States. [1,8]
The genus Leucanthemum derives its vocabulary from the Greek roots “leuco,” signifying “white,” and “anthemon,” meaning “flower.” The specific epithet “vulgare” is rooted in the Latin term “vulgaris,” which translates to “common”. The name “daisy” is thought to originate in old English from “day’s eye,” as the flower uniquely closes up at night. [2,9]
2. ID Guide
What does it look like?
The oxeye daisy is a perennial that can reach a height of 1-2 feet. Its basal stems spread horizontally across the ground and can develop roots at various points along their length, allowing it to establish itself more effectively in the soil. The upright stems in the plant’s center grow vertically and may produce branches. The stems are covered with short, fine hairs. [1,2]
There is a variety of daisy on the market called the Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum), which is a hybrid between the oxeye daisy and max chrysanthemum (Leucanthemum maximum). These hybrids are distinguished by their larger flowers and are commonly marketed as a “safe” alternative to oxeye daisy. Shasta daisy should be carefully monitored (or not planted at all) because it tends to revert back to its parent species, oxeye daisy. [7]
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Key Features
- Roots: An adventitious root system contributes to the plant’s competitive success. Rhizomes with a strong root structure easily propagate. This ability to generate new growth is particularly pronounced when the plant experiences stress, such as mowing or other damage. When conditions become unfavorable, these rhizomes can spread and establish new plants, ensuring the species survives. [1]
- Leaves: Basal leaves are round to spoon-shaped and have long petioles. They are simple with coarsely toothed margins. Stem leaves are alternate, coarsely toothed, and lance-shaped, with petioles that clasp the stem as they move up. [1,2]
- Flowers: The most obvious trait of oxeyes is the distinctive white flowers with yellow centers. The flowers grow on long stems, which hold them above the surrounding leaves. The yellow flower heads are about the size of a small coin, measuring between 0.4 and 0.8 inches across. The ray florets are bright white, and the disk florets are a cheerful yellow. Surrounding the flower head are the involucral bracts, which look like green leaves arranged in a shingle pattern. Each flower head has between 15 and 35 white ray florets that can produce viable seeds. The yellow disk florets are smaller, measuring 0.08-0.1 inches. [1,2]
- Seeds: A prolific seed producer, healthy oxeye daisies can produce about 26,000 seeds per plant. The fruit is a type of small seed called an achene. Achenes are tiny, measuring about 0.04 to 0.12 inches long, with no pappus. They are cylindrical, with ridges on their surface, and feel smooth to the touch. [1,2]
Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Surrounding the flower head are the involucral bracts, which look like green leaves arranged in a shingle pattern.
Ohio State Weed Lab , The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
Seeds can germinate throughout the plant’s growing season, but most will develop in the spring.
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Rhizomes on a strong root structure easily propagate. This ability to generate new growth is particularly pronounced when the plant experiences stress.
Ohio State Weed Lab , The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
Basal leaves are round to spoon-shaped and have long petioles. They are simple with coarsely toothed margins.
Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program , Montana State University, Bugwood.org
Oxeye daisy can reach a height of 1-2 feet. Its basal stems spread horizontally across the ground, while the upright stems in the plant’s center grow vertically and may produce branches.
Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Healthy oxeye daisies can produce about 26,000 seeds per plant. The fruit is a type of small seed called an achene.
3. Infestation Basics
“It is a pernicious weed in most places, and should not be allowed to spread…”
-James Clinton Neal, 1895
Impacts
Where does it grow, and how does it spread?
This tough plant thrives in full sun, which makes it incredibly competitive in open spaces. Because oxeye daisies can be easily outgrown by larger, more dominant plants, they do best in areas with access to plenty of sunlight. In these conditions, they can flourish and attract more pollinators. [1]
Oxeye daisies in the west can be found from 5,000 to 12,000 feet and thrive in various disturbed areas impacted by human activity or natural events. You’ll commonly find them flourishing in abandoned parking lots, where the soil has started to reestablish itself. Railroad embankments and roadsides provide ideal conditions for these plants, as they often receive ample sunlight and are not heavily trafficked. Their ideal soil conditions consist of a pH between 6.5 and 7. [1,4]
In addition to these urban and semi-urban environments, oxeye daisies can be spotted in more natural settings like pastures, meadows, and native grasslands. Although less expansive in the southern U.S., their presence is recorded in every state. Cattle typically avoid eating oxeye daisies, which can help them spread, especially in pastures with heavy traffic. [1]
The plant produces vegetatively through rhizomatous creeping roots and seed production. A single plant can produce 2,688 seeds annually, viable just ten days after the flower opens. However, depending on environmental conditions, seeds can remain dormant in the soil for several years. Flowers appear in early June and continue flowering until more severe frosts overtake the plant in mid-late fall. Each plant survives for 2-5 years, which gives it plenty of opportunities to reproduce. [1,3]
The seeds lack a pappus and thus do not travel far except by mechanical means. Wind slightly disperses the seeds, but not far from the parent plant. Seeds can germinate throughout the plant’s growing season, but most will develop in the spring. After the rosette develops about six leaves, shallow, well-developed lateral roots begin replacing the central taproot. New rosettes will form from lateral root rhizomes, and a single plant may have 1-40 rosettes, each producing a single main stem. [1,5]
Key takeaway: Oxeye daisies thrive in full sun and disturbed areas, such as abandoned parking lots, roadsides, and meadows, due to their competitiveness in open spaces. Avoided by cattle, these daisies are widespread across the U.S., particularly in less dense southern regions.
Why is it so invasive?
The oxeye daisy can easily withstand light frost and drought. While it doesn’t prefer shade, it can adapt well. When surrounded by taller plants, the weed focuses more energy on producing flowers and seeds, ensuring it can grow and spread even in less-than-ideal conditions. [1]
Oxeye daisies are particularly well-suited to thrive in poor soils, as they can prioritize the allocation of nutrients to their roots at the cost of their flower production. This adaptive trait allows it to survive in challenging environments where other plants might struggle. However, its relatively underdeveloped root system makes it susceptible to competition in areas with richer soils. Other plants can easily overcome the oxeye daisy in more fertile regions. [1]
Key takeaway: Oxeye daisies are highly adaptable, tolerating light frost, drought, and poor soils by reallocating nutrients to their roots. It struggles to compete in richer soils due to its underdeveloped root system. When shaded by taller plants, it prioritizes flower and seed production to ensure its spread.
Common risk factors for invasion
- Public Areas: Oxeye daisy is commonly planted in medians or municipal flower boxes. Town officials plant this weed as a low-cost addition to city aesthetics but are unaware that the plant is noxious and will inevitably escape and spread.
- Open spaces: This weed favors open, sunny environments with little canopy cover, such as pastures, cultivated fields, and south-facing slopes. These conditions allow the weed to establish quickly and outcompete other plants. Maintaining healthy, large-leafed vegetation in these areas can help limit its spread, as oxeye daisy is highly intolerant to shade.
- Overgrazing: When livestock are allowed to graze in a single area for too long, they will rip through the existing vegetation and expose the top layer of soil. This is particularly true of this weed, as cattle tend to avoid oxeye daisy. This creates an opening for daisy seeds, but this risk can be mitigated by practices that move cattle around more frequently, such as rotational grazing.
Livestock
Sheep, goats, and horses are known to graze on oxeye daisies without reservation, enjoying this plant as a food source. In contrast, cows and pigs tend to steer clear of these plants, likely due to their acrid flavor, which is unappealing to these animals. This dietary preference allows oxeye daisies to flourish and spread in certain pastures, particularly in areas with less competition from more favored forage species. [1]
Erosion
Research has shown that regions with a higher prevalence of oxeye daisies often have larger patches of bare soil. This can be attributed to the plant’s relatively shallow root system, especially when compared to the dense and extensive root networks of the grass species that would ideally dominate healthy pastures. Consequently, the risk of soil erosion significantly increases in areas heavily infested with oxeye daisies where grasses or other herbaceous plants have been displaced. [1,2]
4. Management Strategies
Oxeye daisy quickly germinates on bare soil and has difficulty becoming established in areas with good ground cover. Where healthy ground cover is unavailable, mulch or other litter can help prevent seeds from germinating. The weed also struggles in shady areas, so well-established broadleaf plant communities will also hinder its growth. [1]
Because this weed is still sold as an ornamental seed, its invasion can be prevented by staying informed about local plant regulations. The commonly sold Shasta daisy should also be avoided, as this hybrid can revert to its parent plant, the oxeye daisy, becoming invasive. [2,7]
DO’s
- Improve soil health. Oxeye daisies thrive in poor soils. Amending soil with organic matter or nutrients can discourage their growth in unwanted areas.
- Be wary that this plant is currently sold as an ornamental, so it could appear anywhere
- Overwhelm the plant with well-established crops, mulch, and native grass communities.
DON’Ts
- Transport contaminated soil. Oxeye daisy seeds can hitch a ride in soil or gravel. Avoid moving materials from infested areas to new sites.
- Plant in wildflower mixes. Some seed mixes labeled as “wildflower” or “pollinator-friendly” might include oxeye daisy. Always check the seed list carefully.
- Overgraze pastures, as overgrazing weakens desirable plants, leaving bare soil where oxeye daisies can easily establish and spread.
** The following information is provided courtesy of the UC Weed Research and Information Center. The Taos Soil and Water Conservation District does not endorse the use of any particular product, brand, or application thereof. **
Effective non-chemical control of Oxeye daisies involves thorough hand-pulling or digging to remove the shallow root system and consistent mowing just before or at the bud stage to exhaust rhizomes and prevent seed production. A thick layer of organic mulch or establishment of competitive perennial grasses, combined with regular equipment cleaning to avoid seed dispersal, further suppresses regeneration and spread.
| Hand Pulling | Small patches may be removed with hand tools or by repeated hand-pulling. |
| Mowing | Mowing before bloom can reduce seed set but will not control the plant. Mowing during or after flowering will disperse seeds. |
| Tilling | Because of its shallow root system, oxeye daisy can be controlled with cultivation. A single shallow cultivation may spread root fragments and enlarge the population. However, cultivation at a depth of about 6 inches in summer followed by repeated shallow cultivations can help control patches. Equipment should be cleaned after use, and the site should be monitored for resprouts. |
Oxeye daisy is palatable to most livestock, but grazing alone does not control it. Cattle tend to avoid it, and it can give an off-flavor to milk.
Burning does not appear to control this species.
Plants establish most readily on bare soil. Undisturbed vegetative cover discourages oxeye daisy establishment and reproduction. Fertilization to favor grasses can help to reduce daisy infestations.
No known biocontrol agents are available for control of oxeye daisy, primarily because the plant is still widely cultivated and also related to many other cultivated chrysanthemums.
- CHEMICAL
- Growth Regulators
- Aromatic Aminoacid Inhibitors
- Branched Chain Aminoacid Inhibitors
- Photosynthetic Inhibitors
The following specific use information is based on published papers and reports by researchers and land managers. Other trade names may be available, and other compounds also are labeled for this weed. Directions for use may vary between brands; see label before use. Herbicides are listed by mode of action and then alphabetically. The order of herbicide listing is not reflective of the order of efficacy or preference.
|
Aminocyclopyrachlor + chlorsulfuron Perspective |
Rate: 3 to 4.5 oz product/acre Timing: In spring up to flowering, or in the fall rosette stage. Remarks: Perspective provides broad-spectrum control of many broadleaf species. Although generally safe to grasses, it may suppress or injure certain annual and perennial grass species. Do not treat in the root zone of desirable trees and shrubs. Do not apply more than 11 oz product/acre per year. At this high rate, cool-season grasses will be damaged, including bluebunch wheatgrass. Not yet labeled for grazing lands. Add an adjuvant to the spray solution. Recommended rates are based on those reported for similar species. This product is not approved for use in California and some counties of Colorado (San Luis Valley). |
|
Aminopyralid Milestone |
Rate: 4 to 7 oz product/acre (1 to 1.75 oz a.e./acre) Timing: In winter to early spring for preemergence and seedling treatments; in spring up to flower bud stage. Can be applied in fall in cold-winter areas. Remarks: A broadleaf herbicide like picloram, but more selective. Very safe on grasses. Longer residual and higher activity than clopyralid. Will kill most legumes. |
|
Aminopyralid + 2,4-D, Forefront HL; Aminopyralid + metsulfuron, Opensight; Aminopyralid + triclopyr, Capstone |
Rate: 1.2 to 1.5 pt Forefront HL/acre; 2.5 to 3.3 oz Opensight/acre; 5 to 8 pt Capstone/acre Timing: From rosette to bolting stages. Opensight may also be applied in fall to seedlings and rosettes. Remarks: Opensight is not registered for use in California. |
|
Clopyralid Transline |
Rate: 0.67 to 1.33 pt product/acre (4 to 8 oz ae/acre) Timing: In spring, up to the flower bud stage. Remarks: A broadleaf herbicide like picloram, but more selective. Very safe on grasses. Will kill most legumes. |
|
Clopyralid + 2,4-D Curtail |
Rate: 2 to 3 qt Curtail/acre (use higher rate if plants are drought-stressed) Timing: Apply to rapidly growing weeds from full rosette to early flower bud. Remarks: This mix is broadleaf-selective with a wide range of susceptible species. Recommended rates are based on those reported for similar species. |
|
Dicamba Banvel, Clarity |
Rate: 1 to 2 pt product/acre of (0.5 to 1 lb a.e./acre) Timing: Apply to rapidly growing plants in the rosette stage. Smaller plants are more effectively controlled. Remarks: Dicamba is a broadleaf-selective herbicide often combined with other active ingredients. It is effective earlier in the season than 2,4-D. It is also effective when tank-mixed with 2,4-D (0.75 lb a.e./acre dicamba + 0.25 lb a.e./acre 2,4-D). Dicamba has very limited soil residual. Avoid drift to sensitive crops. Do not apply when outside temperatures exceed 80°F. It will kill or injure legumes. Recommended rates are based on those reported for similar species. Dicamba is available mixed with diflufenzopyr in a formulation called Overdrive. This has been reported to be effective on oxeye daisy. Diflufenzopyr is an auxin transport inhibitor which causes dicamba to accumulate in shoot and root meristems, increasing its activity. Overdrive is applied postemergence at 4 to 8 oz product/acre to rapidly growing plants. Higher rates should be used on large annuals and biennials or when treating perennial weeds. Add a non-ionic surfactant to the treatment solution at 0.25% v/v or a methylated seed oil at 1% v/v solution. |
|
Picloram Tordon 22K |
Rate: 1.5 to 2 pt product/acre (6 to 8 oz a.e./acre) Timing: Apply at rosette to flower bud stage in spring, or to new rosettes in fall. Remarks: Most broadleaf plants are susceptible to picloram, but it is relatively safe on established grasses. Picloram is also effective mixed with dicamba or 2,4-D. It has long soil residual activity and some applicators note that it can injure young or germinating grasses. Picloram is a restricted use herbicide. Not registered for use in California. |
|
Triclopyr |
Rate: 2 pt product/acre (0.75 lb a.e./acre Garlon 3A, 1 lb a.e./acre Garlon 4 Ultra) |
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Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 Ultra |
Timing: Postemergence to rapidly growing plants. Remarks: Broadleaf-selective and safe on most grasses. Most effective on smaller plants. Garlon 4 Ultra is formulated as a low volatile ester. However, in warm temperatures, spraying onto hard surfaces such as rocks or pavement can increase the risk of volatilization and off-target damage. Recommended rates are based on those reported for similar species. |
|
Triclopyr + 2,4-D Crossbow |
Rate: 2 to 4 qt product/acre Timing: Rosette stage. Remarks: Include non-ionic surfactant. Recommended rates are based on those reported for similar species. |
|
Glyphosate Roundup, Accord XRT II, and others |
Rate: 1.33 to 2.67 qt product (Roundup ProMax)/acre (1.5 to 3 lb a.e./acre) Timing: Apply to rapidly growing plants from rosette to bud stage. Remarks: Glyphosate has no soil activity and is a nonselective herbicide. Repeat applications may be necessary. Effectiveness is increased by addition of ammonium sulfate. |
|
Chlorsulfuron Telar |
Rate: 1 to 2.6 oz product/acre (0.75 to 1.95 oz a.i./acre) Timing: In fall to new rosettes, or to rosettes in spring before bolting. Remarks: Mixed selectivity; generally safe on grasses, but fall application may injure bromes. Use a surfactant. It can be used in late season applications to reduce seed production and has fairly long soil residual activity. Recommended rates are based on those reported for similar species. |
|
Imazapyr Arsenal, Habitat, Stalker, Chopper, Polaris |
Rate: 2 to 3 pt product/acre (0.5 to 0.75 lb a.e./acre) Timing: Preemergence or postemergence. Remarks: Imazapyr is a nonselective herbicide. |
|
Metsulfuron Escort |
Rate: 0.5 to 1 oz product/acre (0.3 to 0.6 oz a.i./acre) Timing: Apply to young, rapidly growing weeds in spring before flowering, or in fall to new rosettes. The best control in Colorado studies with metsulfuron occurred when applied during flowering. Remarks: Mixed selectivity, generally safe on grasses. Metsulfuron has some soil residual activity. Use a surfactant. Opensight is a premix of aminopyralid + metsulfuron and can be applied at 2.5 to 3.3 oz product/acre. Metsulfuron can also be tank-mixed with 2,4-D and/or dicamba. Not registered for use in California. |
|
Metsulfuron + chlorsulfuron Cimarron X-tra |
Rate: 0.5 to 1 oz product/acre Timing: Most recommendations on timing indicate to treat before flowering. However, the best control in Colorado studies with metsulfuron occurred when applied during flowering. Remarks: Recommended rates are based on those reported for similar species. Not registered for use in California. |
|
Sulfometuron Oust and others |
Rate: 3 to 5 oz product/acre (2.25 to 3.75 oz a.i./acre) Timing: Preemergence or early postemergence, when weeds are germinating or rapidly growing. Remarks: Sulfometuron has mixed selectivity. It is fairly safe on native perennial grasses, especially wheatgrass. Other desirable grasses may be stunted, stressed, or injured. Good for revegetation use, but with a fairly long soil residual. |
|
Hexazinone Velpar L |
Rate: 4 to 6 pt product/acre (1 to 1.5 lb a.e./acre) Timing: Apply before weeds emerge or to young plants. Remarks: Mixed selectivity, fairly long soil residual. It can be effective in both foliar and soil applications. In soil applications, rates will vary with soil texture and soil organic matter; best results if applied when soil is moist. Use rates will also vary depending on the weed species to be controlled. Hardwood trees near application site can absorb this chemical through the roots and may be injured or killed. Do not spray near the root zone of desirable hardwood trees or shrubs. High rates of hexazinone can create bare ground, so only use high rates in spot treatments. |
5. Citations
[1] Sheley, Roger L., and Janet K. Petroff. Biology and Management of Noxious Rangeland Weeds. Oregon State University Press, 1999.
[2] Montana Field Guide. “Oxeye Daisy – Leucanthemum Vulgare.” Oxeye Daisy, Montana Natural Heritage Program, 26 Nov. 2024, fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=PDAST5V040. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[3] Rankel, Kiersten. “Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding Ox-Eye Daisy Lifecycle.” Greg App, Greg App, 9 Oct. 2024, greg.app/oxeye-daisy-lifecycle/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[4] lpcgov.org. “Oxeye Daisey- List B.” Oxeye Daisey Noxious Weed, https://www.lpcgov.org/departments/weed_management/enforceable_weeds/oxeye_daisy.php#.Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[5] National Parks Service. “Invasive Oxeye Daisy.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 28 Feb. 2015, www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/invasive-oxeye-daisy.htm. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[6] Lang, Kristine. “Invasive Garden Plants: Is That a Weed?” SDSU Extension, 9 Aug. 2021, extension.sdstate.edu/invasive-garden-plants-weed. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[7] Puisis, Erica. “How to Grow a Shasta Daisy.” The Spruce, The Spruce, 30 June 2024, www.thespruce.com/shasta-daisy-growing-guide-5209135#citation-4. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[8] Stutz, Sonja, et al. “Leucanthemum vulgare Lamarck, Oxeye Daisy / Marguerite blanche (Asteraceae).” Biological Control Programmes in Canada, 2013-2023, 30 July 2024, pp. 498–504, https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800623279.0054. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[9] eatweeds.co.uk. “Oxeye Daisy.” Eatweeds, 4 Mar. 2022, www.eatweeds.co.uk/oxeye-daisy-leucanthemum-vulgare. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[10] Woodland Trust. “Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum Vulgare).” Woodland Trust, https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/oxeye-daisy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
[11] Smith, Andy. “Ox-Eye Daisy.” Nativetreesfromseed.Com, Andy Smith, 11 July 2024, nativetreesfromseed.com/wildflowers/ox-eye-daisy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Kevin Cheng, inaturalist.org
Fun Facts
This plant has an extensive mythological and cultural history. In the Iliad, the oxeye daisy was linked to the goddess Hera. Early Christians dedicated the flower to Mary Magdalene. In France, the petals held significance in “love divination,” the more modern game of “he loves me, he loves me not” originated from these practices. A sad piece of Celtic lore claims the daisies are the reincarnated spirits of stillborn children. [10,11]
Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org
Montana Statewide Noxious Weed Awareness and Education Program, Montana State University, Bugwood.org
Fun Facts
Oxeye daisy’s vibrant petals, tender stems, and lush leaves are safe to eat raw. They are ideal for fresh salads and sandwiches and can be added to soups and stews for extra flavor and visual appeal. [9]
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California – Davis, Bugwood.org
Fun Facts
The leaves are rich in vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, riboflavin, niacin, and potassium, contributing to a healthy diet and low carbohydrate consumption. The petals are high in beta-carotene and niacin. [9]
David Stephens, Bugwood.org
“This vile intruder is becoming a great nuisance in our country…It is propagated rapidly, and is, moreover, exceedingly difficult to get rid of, when once fully established.”
-William Darlington, 1859