Leucanthemum 'Lemon Meringue'

Leucanthemum 'Lemon Meringue': Frilly Lemon Blooms That Fade to White

'Lemon Meringue' opens buttery yellow, fades to white and ruffles its petals like a pastry chef showing off. Compact, frilly and long blooming, it's the dessert table of the daisy world. ZERO CALORIES. FULL SATISFACTION.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Leucanthemum x superbum 'Lemon Meringue'
• Common Name: Shasta Daisy
• Height: 35 cm (14 in) in flower
• Spread: 35 cm (14 in)
• Flowers: Semi-double to double daisies with frilled petals that open lemon yellow and fade to white, around a golden centre
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer (June to August)
• Foliage: Green, forming a compact, wide-based mound with heavy branching
• Features: Compact, long blooming

Where to Plant: Its small size suits the front of a border, edging a sunny path, mass planting, or containers and window boxes. Plant it where the two-tone blooms can be seen up close, such as beside a patio or walkway.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Lemon Meringue' in a sunny bed with a pink peony, lavender-blue asters and double gold daisies. Paeonia 'Shirley Temple' opens soft pink double peonies at 90 cm in May and June. Rudbeckia Solar Sisters™ adds double yellow and orange blooms at 45 to 60 cm from June to October. Aster 'Mönch' brings lavender-blue asters at 60 to 75 cm from July to September. Andropogon 'Blackhawks' stands behind at 150 cm, its blades darkening to purple-black.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Avoid spots that stay wet over winter, especially in heavy clay. Water regularly the first season and during dry stretches. Remove spent flowers to keep the plant tidy and blooming. Cut back to the basal leaves after flowering or in early spring. Divide in spring every few years if the centre of the clump starts to thin.

History: 'Lemon Meringue' was bred by Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby, Oregon, from a cross of two of their own Shasta daisy seedlings, and introduced in 2023. The Shasta daisy itself was created by Luther Burbank, who introduced it in 1901 and named it after California's Mount Shasta.

Final Thoughts: Tuck it in a pot by the patio and watch your guests try to order a slice. THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED, HONEY.