Native Plant Alternatives to Leucanthemum vulgare (Ox-Eye Daisy)

Leucanthemum vulgare, also known as the oxeye daisy, is considered an invasive species in many parts of North America. Native to Europe and Asia, it was introduced to North America in the early 19th century and has since naturalized across much of the continent.

While the oxeye daisy is often appreciated for its showy, white, daisy-like flowers, it can quickly spread and form dense populations that crowd out native plant species. It can thrive in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, meadows, forest clearings, and along roadsides.

The plant spreads both by seed and by rhizomes, making it difficult to control once established. The seeds are also easily dispersed by wind and water, allowing the plant to quickly colonize new areas.

Ox-Eye Daisy is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.