Becky Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky'
flowerBecky is the gold-standard Shasta daisy and a former Perennial Plant of the Year, beloved because it does what other Shastas struggle to do: stand tall without staking and shrug off summer heat and humidity. It forms a clump of glossy dark-green leaves topped by rigid 3 to 4 ft stems, each carrying 3 to 4 inch flowers of pure white rays around a bright yellow center disk. Bloom runs for many weeks in mid to late summer, and the long sturdy stems make it one of the best cutting daisies for a vase. A dependable, long-lived border perennial that anchors a sunny bed.
☀️
Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 7 days
🌸
Bloom
~120 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
↔️
Spacing
18-24 in. apart
⬇️
Planting Depth
Set crown level with the soil surface
🧪
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5 – 9
When to Fertilize
Once in spring as growth begins
Fertilizer
Balanced all-purpose fertilizer or compost
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow Becky in full sun (at least six hours) in average, well-drained soil; good drainage is essential because wet winter soil is the main thing that kills it. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and tolerates a wide pH near neutral. Water moderately while establishing, after which it is fairly drought tolerant. Deadhead spent flowers to push more bloom, and cut the stems back to the basal foliage after the main flush to tidy the plant and save its energy. Divide the clump every two to three years in spring or early fall to keep it vigorous - this is also the easiest way to make more plants, since named Shastas do not come true from seed.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care, and they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →🌱
Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
🌿
Transplant outdoors
Apr 15
🌸
Projected first bloom
Aug 13
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Purple Coneflower: A matching-height summer perennial that blooms alongside it and shares the same full-sun, well-drained border
- Salvia: Spiky violet-blue flowers contrast the round white daisies and draw in bees and hummingbirds
- Bee Balm: A pollinator magnet that enjoys the same sun and feeds bees and butterflies through the daisy bloom
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Rinse colonies off new growth with water and encourage ladybugs; avoid excess nitrogen that fuels soft growth
Pick off and destroy leaves with winding tan trails, and clear spent foliage at season end
Verticillium wilt and leaf spot
Plant in well-drained soil, water at the base rather than overhead, space for airflow, and remove affected stems
🌸 Blooms & cutting
For the vase, cut stems in the cool morning when flowers have just fully opened but the centers are still tight, and strip the lower leaves; they last about a week in water. Deadhead regularly through the season to keep new buds coming, then shear the whole plant back to its low rosette of leaves after flowering. The basal foliage stays evergreen in mild winters.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Grown as an ornamental and pollinator plant - the open daisies are an easy landing pad for bees and butterflies, and the long stiff stems make it one of the best white cut flowers for arrangements.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.