Leucanthemum 'Brightside'

Leucanthemum 'Brightside': Cheerful White Daisies on Tall Stems

'Brightside' is the friend who hears about your flooded basement and says at least you'll get new carpet. Big white daisies, deep yellow centres and optimism that frankly borders on aggressive. NOTHING GETS THIS PLANT DOWN.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Leucanthemum x superbum 'Brightside'
• Common Name: Shasta Daisy
• Height: 75–80 cm (30–31 in)
• Spread: 50 cm (20 in)
• Flowers: Large, pure white single daisies with deep yellow centres
• Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall with deadheading (June to September)
• Foliage: Green, staying in a low clump beneath the flower stems
• Features: Long blooming, good cut flower

Where to Plant: Plant it in the middle of a sunny border, a cottage garden or a cutting bed, where the tall, clean stems are ideal for bouquets. White daisies make good peacekeepers between strong colours.

Companion Plants: Use 'Brightside' in a sunny bed with white and pink phlox, orange sneezeweed and tall gold sunflowers. Phlox Confetti Cake™ adds white and pink heads at 60 to 75 cm from June to August. Helenium 'Short 'n' Sassy' brings orange and gold daisies at 40 to 55 cm from July to September. Helianthus 'Sunshine Daydream' rises behind at 150 to 180 cm with double gold blooms from July to October. Sesleria caerulea edges the front with blue-green tufts at 15 to 30 cm.

Plant Care: Give it full sun and average, well-drained soil. Shasta daisies don't like sitting in wet soil over winter, so avoid heavy clay low spots or improve drainage before planting. Water during the first season and during dry spells. Deadhead regularly to keep flowers coming into September. Cut stems back after blooming or in early spring. Divide the clump every few years in spring to keep it healthy and full of flowers.

History: 'Brightside' was introduced by Jelitto Perennial Seeds of Germany in 2005 and is described as related to the well-known 'Becky'. The Shasta daisy group goes back to Luther Burbank, who introduced it in California in 1901 and named it for the white peak of Mount Shasta.

Final Thoughts: Deadhead it and the good mood runs well past summer. Plant it near anyone who needs cheering up. YES, INCLUDING YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW.