Using Shasta Daisies in the Yard
Standard shasta daisies fill in the middle area of a flower bed nicely between the very tall plants toward the back and the small bushy ones in front. Their perky white faces serve as accents among either green foliage or hot-colored flowers. They fill in spaces left when earlier blooming plants, such as iris and peonies, have passed. They look best planted in groups of 3 plants. Because their foliage is plain, shasta daisies are best located behind other flowering plants so it is obscured when the daisies are not blooming. Dwarf forms such as ‘Snowcap’ look great in rock gardens, in planters or as edging.
Cutting/Displaying Indoors: Shasta daisies are great flowers for indoor display. Cut stems of newly opened flowers in the early morning, with a clean, sharp knife or hand pruners. Plunge them into a pail of warm water for several hours or overnight. Then strip off any leaves on the stem that would be below the water line and arrange them in their vase. Add to their water commercial floral preservative or 1/2 can of a citrus based soft drink (7 Up, Sprite) per quart of water in the container to prolong freshness. ‘Alaska’ is great for cutting. For more information see the files on Keeping Cut Flowers and Cut Flower Supplies
