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How to spotThe oxeye daisy flower has white petals around a bright yellow middle, with a single flower sitting on top of a tall stem that sways in the breeze from Spring throughout Summer.Its leaves at the base of the stem are dark green and spoon shaped. It also has a few ragged leaves on the stem.

Where it growsThis perennial wildflowercan be found growingnaturally in large, vibrantgroups in many grassy environments, including meadows, fields, open woodland, post-industrial sites, and motorway embankments.Oxeye daisies are very commonly used as an ornamental plant and grown in gardens across the UK.

Oxeye daisy

Latin nameLeucanthemum vulgare

A perennial plant has a lifecycle of more than two years and will flower every year after its first year of flowering. The stems and flowers of herbaceous perennials (anything that is not a woody tree or shrub) die back over Winter, growing again the following year.

Registered charity 294344 and SC038885

Supporting the Woodland Trust’s Nature’s Calendar project

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ET Don’t confuse it withCommon daisy (Bellis perennis)Oxeye daisies can look a lot like daisies that you would find in a garden lawn, but they have much bigger flowers and much taller stems.The common daisy is smaller, shorter, and its petals are often tinged purple at the tips.

Benefits for wildlifeThe yellow centre of the oxeye daisy is actually made up of many small flowers which hold nectar, a feast for various pollinating insects, including butterflies, bees and hoverflies.

Did you know?Before the 16th century the oxeye daisy had many different common names, including ‘moon daisy’ and ‘moon penny’ because they appear to glow in the moonlight on midsummer evenings.

Get involvedHave you seen any oxeye daisies glowing in the evening or swaying in the breeze?Take a photo to share with friends and @GrowWildUK online using #oxeyedaisy and #NatureQuest

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Why it needs protectingOxeye daisies remain common across the UK and have been widely spread by human activity.However, the semi-natural habitats where they were traditionally found have declined sharply with severe consequences for plants rarer than oxeye daisies and many of the animals that dependon them.