How to Grow Oxeye Daisies: A Practical Guide from Seed to Flowers

Oxeye daisies are one of those wildflowers that instantly give a garden a more natural feel. Their simple white flowers with yellow centres look lovely growing amongst grasses and other wildflowers, and they're visited by a wide range of pollinating insects.

They're perennial plants, so once established, they'll come back year after year. I've also found that they self-seed very happily. That's useful when you're creating a wildflower area, although you may find yourself thinning out seedlings when they start appearing in places you hadn't planned.

Oxeye daisies are easy to grow from seed and aren't particularly demanding about soil. Give them a sunny position, don't make the ground too rich and they'll generally get on with growing without much attention.

When to Sow

Oxeye daisies can be sown in spring or autumn.

For spring sowing, March to May is a good time. You can start seeds in pots or trays under cover or sow directly outside once conditions are suitable.

Autumn sowing, from August to October, is also worthwhile. The soil is usually still warm and there's often more natural moisture available to help young plants establish.

I particularly like autumn sowing for wildflower areas because it follows the natural cycle of the plants.

Don't worry if autumn-sown seedlings don't make much growth before winter. They'll start growing again when conditions improve in spring.

Plants raised from seed may not produce a huge display in their first year. Give them time to establish and flowering should improve as the plants mature.

How to Sow

Oxeye daisy seed is small, so there's no need to bury it deeply.

For pots or trays, fill them with seed compost, gently firm the surface and sow the seeds thinly.

Cover with a very light layer of fine compost or vermiculite, then water carefully.

Keep the compost moist while the seeds germinate, but avoid leaving it soaking wet.

For direct sowing, remove weeds and rake the soil to create a reasonably fine surface. Scatter the seed thinly, lightly rake it in and gently firm the ground.

The important thing is good contact between the seed and soil without burying it too deeply.

Once seedlings appear, give them plenty of light and keep them watered while they're establishing.

Growing Seedlings On

If you've started oxeye daisies in pots or trays, let the seedlings develop until they're large enough to handle.

Move crowded seedlings into individual pots or modules and keep them somewhere bright.

There's no need to feed them heavily. We're looking for sturdy young plants rather than lots of soft leafy growth.

Once they're established, harden off plants raised under cover before planting them outside.

Young oxeye daisies may look fairly modest during their first season. That's perfectly normal for a perennial that's putting much of its energy into developing a good root system.

Planting Out and Spacing

Choose a sunny position for the best flowering.

Oxeye daisies will tolerate some light shade, but they'll generally produce more flowers with plenty of sunshine.

They're happy in a wide range of reasonably well-drained soils and don't need particularly rich ground.

Space individual plants around 30–40cm apart.

That might look generous when you're planting small seedlings, but established plants can develop into substantial clumps.

Water after planting and keep young plants watered until their roots have settled.

Oxeye daisies look particularly good planted in groups amongst other wildflowers and grasses, where their white flowers can create a lovely natural display.

Watering and Feeding

Once established, oxeye daisies need very little attention.

Young plants appreciate regular watering while their roots develop, particularly during dry weather.

Established plants growing in the ground are fairly tolerant of dry conditions, although a thorough watering during prolonged drought can help.

There's generally no need to feed oxeye daisies.

In a wildflower area, rich soil can actually work against you by encouraging vigorous grasses and other plants to compete with the flowers.

I wouldn't add fertiliser simply because the plants are flowering. If they're healthy and producing flowers, they're doing exactly what you want.

Flowering and Wildlife

Oxeye daisies usually flower from late spring through summer, with the main display often during June and July.

Their open flower heads are accessible to a wide range of insects, including bees, hoverflies and beetles.

That's one of the reasons I like them for wildlife planting. They provide a different flower shape from plants such as foxgloves and help make a wildflower area useful to a wider range of visiting insects.

In an informal border, you can remove faded flower stems to keep the plants looking tidy and sometimes encourage further flowering.

For a wildlife area, I'd leave at least some flowers to mature naturally and produce seed.

Self-Seeding and Managing Established Plants

Oxeye daisies can spread quite enthusiastically once they're happy.

I've found they self-seed readily, and while that's useful in a wildflower area, you may eventually find seedlings appearing in places you hadn't expected.

If you'd rather keep them under control, remove some fading flower heads before the seed matures.

Unwanted seedlings are easy enough to pull out while they're small.

Established clumps can also be divided if they become too large or you want plants for another part of the garden. Spring or early autumn is a good time to do this.

I tend to leave some plants to seed and tidy others. That way, the wildflower area can develop naturally without the oxeye daisies taking over everything.

Common Problems

Slugs and Snails

Young oxeye daisy seedlings can be damaged by slugs and snails, particularly during damp weather.

Keep an eye on newly planted seedlings until they're established. Larger plants can usually cope with a little damage.

Plants Not Flowering

Young plants may need time to establish before producing a substantial display.

Too much shade can also reduce flowering. Give plants plenty of sunshine and avoid unnecessary feeding.

Plants Becoming Tall and Floppy

Oxeye daisies can become taller and softer in rich soil.

In a wildflower area, I wouldn't worry too much about plants leaning amongst grasses and neighbouring flowers.

In a more formal border, a little support may help if plants are becoming untidy.

Plants Spreading Too Much

Oxeye daisies can spread by seed and established clumps gradually become larger.

Remove faded flowers before they set seed if you want to limit their spread, and pull out unwanted seedlings while they're young.

Yellowing or Unhealthy Leaves

A few older leaves turning yellow isn't usually anything to worry about.

If the whole plant looks unhappy, check whether the soil is staying waterlogged or whether neighbouring plants are competing too strongly.

Oxeye daisies are exactly the sort of plant I like for a wildlife area. They're easy to establish, come back year after year and provide plenty of flowers for visiting insects.

Give them a sunny patch, allow them a little freedom to spread and keep an eye on the seedlings that appear. They're lovely plants, but I've found they can be rather enthusiastic about deciding where they'd like to grow next.