Leucanthemum 'Sugar Bowl'

Leucanthemum 'Sugar Bowl': A Pocket-Sized Shasta Buried in White

'Sugar Bowl' packs so many fluffy white blooms into one little mound that the leaves have basically given up trying to be seen. Short, dense and heat tolerant. THIS PLANT HAS A SWEET TOOTH AND NO SELF-CONTROL.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Leucanthemum × superbum 'Sugar Bowl'
• Common Name: Shasta Daisy
• Height: 20–25 cm (8–10 in) in flower
• Spread: 35–40 cm (14–16 in)
• Flowers: Pure white, multi-layered daisies in tight bunches that nearly hide the foliage
• Bloom Time: Late spring through summer (May to August)
• Foliage: Deep green, in a low, dense, well-branched mound
• Features: Heat tolerant, compact

Where to Plant: This is a front-row plant. Use it to edge a sunny path or bed, tuck it in at the front of a border, or plant it in pots and window boxes where a regular Shasta would be too big. A row of them makes a crisp white ribbon.

Companion Plants: Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' sits at a similar 30 to 45 cm and flowers blue from May to October, a sweet match for small white daisies. Behind them, Gaura 'Monarch Pink' adds airy pink flowers at 45 to 60 cm from June to September. For early height, tuck in Allium atropurpureum, whose purple heads rise to 60 to 75 cm in May and June. Give this little group full sun and a well-drained spot at the front of the border.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in average, well-drained soil. It won't tolerate soggy ground, so avoid low spots, and loosen heavy clay with compost or grit. Water deeply through the first season, then water during dry spells. Deadheading isn't necessary, because new buds open on top of spent flowers. A light shear after the main flush keeps the mound tidy. Cut back the old foliage in late fall or early spring. Like most Shasta daisies, it stays more vigorous if divided every few years in spring. In colder gardens, a well-drained site matters more than anything for winter survival.

History: The Shasta daisy was created by American breeder Luther Burbank, who crossed several daisy species in California and named the result after snowcapped Mount Shasta. 'Sugar Bowl' is a recent dwarf selection offered by Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon.

Final Thoughts: Perfect for the front edge or a sunny pot. One spoonful is never enough, so plant three. WE WON'T TELL YOUR DENTIST.