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Ox-eye Daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum – Weekly Weeder #18

oxeye daisy flowers

The ox-eye daisy is also known as white daisy, margurite, field daisy, poorland flower, whiteweed and moonpenny.

Range and Identification of Ox-eye Daisy

Although native to Europe, the ox-eye daisy is now naturalized in much of the world. It can be found throughout the United States and Canada. If fact, it is so prolific and adaptable that in many areas it is considered a noxious weed. (Check here to see full range and which states have declared war on this weed.)

It can grow in wide variety of soils, including poor, heavy soil, and it commonly found along roadsides, in pastures and in disturbed soil all over the place – including my garden. I let some of the plants grow, because they spread slowly, but don't advise letting them seed out, as they can quickly take over an area. (Whoops.)

Like the common dandelion, the “flower” head is a composite of many tiny flowers clustered together (disk flowers surrounded by ray flowers). If you click on the image above you can can see this quite clearly on the flowerhead at center left. It grows from 1-3′ tall, depending on conditions, and the flower heads can be somewhat floppy. Leaves are thick, dark green and toothed, and can grow up to 6″ long. They form a basal rosette at the base of the plant, and then alternate up the stem.

The plant is a perennial, so it will come back year after year. The roots form a dense mass and can be hard to remove, so it's best to keep this one under control from the start by deadheading before the flowers mature completely and digging up some of the plant as needed to keep it from spreading too far.

oxeye daisy
Cluster of ox-eye daisies that volunteered in a flower bed

Ox-eye Daisy as food for wildlife and humans

Depending on which reference you check, ox-eye daisies are either a good nectar source or a poor nectar source. Judging from my garden, they sure seem pretty popular with the butterflies, bees and other insects, as you can tell from the photo at the top of the post with the honeybee sitting on a flowerhead.

Ox-eye daisies are not a great forage plant for other animals because of the presence of pyrethrum, a naturally occurring pesticide that gives the leaves a bitter taste. Sheep and goats will eat ox-eye daisy, but cows and pigs avoid it. (reference)  It may impart an “off” taste to the milk of lactating animals if eaten.

Young shoots and leaves are edible, but bitter. They may be used sparingly in salads as a bitter herb and digestive tonic.

Medicinal Uses of Ox-eye Daisy

For years I've simply been enjoying the crazy piles of flowers these plants produce around my yard. I figured they must be good for something, as most plants are, but I didn't know what. it wasn't until I started reading Herbs Gone Wild that I had my ox-eye daisy epiphany.

I read Herbs Gone Wild and the other two books in the series by Diane Kidman (Hair Gone Wild and Beauty Gone Wild). Diane mentions in Herbs Gone Wild that you can use dried ox-eye daisy flowers to make a tea that will clear up sinus congestion for 4 to 6 hours. (1 teaspoon flowers, 1 cup boiling water, steep 10 minutes, sweeten if desired.)  You'd better believe I'll be drying some this summer to have on hand for cold and flu season.

Nature's Herbal states:

The whole plant, and especially the flowers, used as a medicinal herb is antispasmodic, antitussive, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, tonic, nervine and vulnerary. Constituents include Essential oils, Tannin, Saponins, Mucilag, Bitter Principle and Flavones. It has much of the same properties of Chamomile.

The flowers are balsamic and make a medicinal infusion for relieving chronic coughs and for bronchial problems. The herb is used in the treatment of whooping cough, asthma and nervous excitability.

The root is used successfully for stopping the night-sweats of pulmonary consumption. Externally, it is used as a medicinal lotion for wounds, bruises, and ulcers. A distilled water made from the flowers is an effective eye lotion in the treatment of conjunctivitis (pink eye).

As always, any medical information is for informational purposes only. Always exercise caution when using any wild plants. Note:  Ox-eye daisy can cause allergic reactions. People at the greatest risk of allergic reactions are those who are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many other plants. (reference)

Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose
Hair Gone Wild! Recipes & Remedies for Natural Tresses (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 3)
Beauty Gone Wild! Herbal Recipes for Gorgeous Skin & Hair (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 2)
Edible Wild Plants
Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose
Hair Gone Wild! Recipes & Remedies for Natural Tresses (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 3)
Beauty Gone Wild! Herbal Recipes for Gorgeous Skin & Hair (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 2)
Edible Wild Plants
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Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose
Herbs Gone Wild! Ancient Remedies Turned Loose
$4.99
Hair Gone Wild! Recipes & Remedies for Natural Tresses (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 3)
Hair Gone Wild! Recipes & Remedies for Natural Tresses (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 3)
$4.99
Beauty Gone Wild! Herbal Recipes for Gorgeous Skin & Hair (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 2)
Beauty Gone Wild! Herbal Recipes for Gorgeous Skin & Hair (Herbs Gone Wild! Book 2)
$4.99
Edible Wild Plants
Edible Wild Plants
$11.99

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2 Comments

  1. I have made tea out of the dried flower heads to relieve muscle pain after a hard day in the garden. Quite effective.

  2. This is just what I needed as I’ve been trying to identify this plant in my yard. I have a tone of them but few dandelions. Thanks for this whole series!