The Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a commonly grown herbaceous perennial plant with the classic daisy appearance of white petals (ray florets) around a yellow disc, similar to the Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. but larger. Formerly classified in the genus Chrysanthemum, these daisies were transferred to their own genus of Leucanthemum because they lack some traits of true Chrysanthemums. Shasta daisies are characterized by a distinct odor which some find unpleasant, which makes them unusual amongst flowers.
The Shasta Daisy originated as a hybrid produced by the famed American horticulturist Luther Burbank, Leucanthemum lacustre (Brot.) Samp. x Leucanthemen maximum (Ramond) DC. Some members of the genus are considered noxious weeds, but the Shasta Daisy remains a favorite garden plant and groundcover.
[edit] Varieties
Cultivars include Alaska and Becky.
