Ecology and Management of Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.)

Invasive Species Technical Note Number MT-19

If you encounter any problems with the file provided on this page, please contact Technical Resources at 406-587-6822.

A printer-friendly version of this technical note is available in Adobe Reader format.

Invasive Species Technical Note Number MT-19 (PDF; 530 KB)

March 2008

By Jim Jacobs, Invasive Species Specialist, NRCS, Bozeman, Montana

Abstract

Oxeye daisy is a European perennial forb that spreads by seed and creeping rhizomes. Its distinctive flowerhead with yellow disc and white ray flowers and its spatula-shaped, lobed rosette leaves help identify this Montana Category I noxious weed. First recorded from Lewis and Clark County in 1890, it spread to 24 counties by 2007. Oxeye daisy is a prolific seed producer and seeds can survive in the soil for up to 39 years. The creeping rhizomes enable oxeye daisy to form dense populations avoided by livestock and that crowd-out native and forage plant species (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. An oxeye daisy infestation.

Herbicides that temporarily reduce oxeye daisy populations include 2,4-D, aminopyralid, metsulfuron, and picloram. Applications in the rosette or pre-bloom stages of growth are most effective. Nitrogen fertilization may also reduce populations within competitive plant communities with low soil fertility. The shallow root system of oxeye daisy makes it susceptible to control with tillage, however, cleaning tillage equipment after use is important to prevent spread and follow-up weed management may be needed to control plants re-generating from rhizomes and seeds. Persistent hand pulling and grubbing that removes the rhizome may be practical on small-scale populations. Mowing before bloom will reduce seed production but will not reduce populations. Prescribed burning should be combined with other control practices. There are no biological control insects available for oxeye daisy management. Applying practices that encourage competitive desired plants will improve control procedures and reduce the spread of oxeye daisy. Follow-up monitoring after control is important to target populations growing from the long-lived seed bank.

Plant Biology

• Taxonomy
• Identification
• Life History
• Habitat, Spread and Impacts

Management

• Herbicidal Control and Nutrient Management
• Hand Pulling, Mowing and Tilling
• Prescribed Burning
• Grazing Control, Cultural Control and Biological Control
• Re-vegetation
• Integrated Pest Management

References

< Back to Invasive Species Technical Notes

Last Modified: 11/10/2011