presented by the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council

Not all daisies were created equal! Not to be confused with ornamental and native daisies, Oxeye Daisy is an invasive plant originally from Europe. Its flowers are, unsurprisingly, white and yellow in typical daisy fashion, and the plant can grow up to 1m in height, forming dense clumps. Oxeye Daisy leaves are spoon-shaped at the base, and wavy-edged to toothed higher up on the stem.

Oxeye Daisy forms dense stands that inhibit forage production, dominating rangelands. Moreover, it reduces forage for wildlife and livestock. Due to its unpleasant taste, most grazers tend to avoid it, allowing it to spread easily within grazed grasslands, pastures, and rangelands.

How to remove it:Hand-digging before seed production, ensuring as much root as possible is removed, is effective for small infestations. However, keep an eye on the site, as new shoots may emerge from remaining root portions. Mowing may effectively reduce seed production, but it should be repeated throughout the season as it may stimulate plant growth. Grazing by sheep or goats may also reduce Oxeye Daisy spread. In any case, follow-up treatments will be required as seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years.