Control Oxeye Daisy Organically

Step 1. Correctly identify your plant.

  • A rhizomatous multi stemmed perennial, on average around 2 feet tall.  

  • Leaves are alternate, dark green and smooth.  Leaves progressively reduce in size upward on the stem.  Basal (bottom) leaves are spatula-shaped with toothed to deeply lobed margins, upper leaves are sessile, toothed, and smaller in size.

  • Solitary daisy like flower heads with ray flowers and yellow disk flowers, about 1.5 inches in diameter.

Photo credit:  Steven County Noxious Weed Control Board, https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/ and http://www.middleparkcd.com/

Step 2. Choose your method.

  • Hand pull or dig removing at least 1-3” of root. It is preferable to pull during the rosette (middle photo) stage, but mature plants can be pulled prior to going to seed. Seed any large patches of bare ground with native seed to prevent future weeds.

  • Mowing or spraying organic burn down herbicides are both effective methods. Mow as soon as flower buds appear, mowing may have to be repeated during long growing season is subsequent flowering is observed.

 Step 3. Repeat.

Seed disperses short distance, but some survive to 39 years.

·To learn more about the biology of Oxeye Daisy visit the web page below.