Description
Leucanthemum –
There are 26 species of vigorous, clump forming annual and perennials in this genus. They occur in rocky alpine slopes and moist meadows, grassland, and wasteland in Europe and temperate Asia. They have alternate, smooth edged, deeply pinnatifid, toothed, scalloped, or lobed leaflets, and solitary daisy-like terminal flowers, which are usually white, sometime yellow with yellow centers. Grow alpine species in a scree bed or rock garden, taller perennials in a wild garden. Some hybrids and cultivars are useful in a herbaceous border and for cut flowers.
Grow these undemanding plants in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Alpine species need sharply drained soil in full sun. Many of the taller plants need support. Divide perennials in early spring or late summer.
Prone to aphids, slugs, earwigs, chrysanthemum nematode, and leaf spots.
L. atratum – Chrysanthemum atratum – This variable, clump or mat forming perennial from the Alps, Apennines, mountains of Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Yugoslavia grows 12″ tall and wide. It produces spoon shaped, scalloped or lobed, dark green basal leaves, to 2″ long, and shorter, oblong to linear, deeply toothed to pinnatifid stem leaves, with toothed tips.. In summer from upright stems it carries solitary flowers, to 2″ across, with yellow centers and white petals.
Zones 6-9
