At the moment’s featured plant is the Ox Eye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare. It was beforehand generally known as Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. We share the place to search out this wild plant, how you can determine it, and how you can safely use it for meals and medication.
Vary and Identification of Ox Eye Daisy
The ox eye daisy is native to Europe, however naturalized in a lot of the world, together with all through North America. Many areas classify it as a noxious weed as a result of it spreads and adapts so nicely.
It may possibly develop in broad number of soils, together with poor, heavy soil. It grows alongside roadsides, in pastures, and in disturbed soil – together with my backyard. I exploit them as companion crops, however don’t advise letting them seed out. Deadhead earlier than the flowers mature fully and domesticate across the plant to scale back spreading.
The seeds stay viable for over 40 years, and so they can rapidly take over an space. In addition they stay viable after passing via the digestive tract of ruminants, which is one other method they will unfold.
The plant is a perennial, so it is going to come again 12 months after 12 months. The roots type a dense mass and could be exhausting to take away.
Just like the frequent dandelion, the “flower” head is a composite of many tiny flowers clustered collectively. The ox eye daisy white petalled flower heads have a yellow middle. They bloom from Might via September, relying on location.
Crops develop from 1-3′ tall, relying on situations. In poor, dry soils, it’s shorter. In wealthy soil, it will get taller and floppy.
Leaves are thick, darkish inexperienced and toothed, and may develop as much as 6″ lengthy. They type a basal rosette on the base of the plant, after which alternate up the stem. The stems are almost hairless.
Meals for Wildlife and People
Many various pollinators get pleasure from these daisies, together with butterflies, bees, and different bugs. That is fascinating to me, as a result of the crops include pyrethrum. Pyrethrum is a naturally occurring pesticide that offers the leaves a bitter style. You possibly can combine the dried flowers with diatomaceous earth to repel fleas.
Sheep and goats will eat ox eye daisy, however cows and pigs keep away from it. (reference) It could impart an “off” style to the milk of lactating animals if eaten.
Younger shoots and leaves are edible, however bitter. Use sparingly in salads as a bitter herb and digestive tonic. Decide younger, unopened flower buds and a marinate for a caper substitute.
Medicinal Makes use of
I loved the loopy piles of flowers these crops produce round my yard for years, however didn’t use them a lot. It wasn’t till I learn Herbs Gone Wild that I spotted it had extra makes use of.
Diane mentions in Herbs Gone Wild that ox eye daisy flower tea clears up sinus congestion. Add 1 teaspoon dried flowers to 1 cup boiling water. Cowl and steep 10 minutes. Pressure and sweeten if desired.
Nature’s Natural states:
The entire plant, and particularly the flowers, used as a medicinal herb is antispasmodic, antitussive, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, tonic, nervine and vulnerary. Constituents embody Important oils, Tannin, Saponins, Mucilage, Bitter Precept and Flavones. It has a lot of the identical properties of chamomile.
Ox eye daisy flowers are balsamic and make a medicinal infusion for relieving continual coughs and for bronchial issues. Use the herb within the remedy of whooping cough, bronchial asthma and nervous excitability.
The basis stops night-sweats of pulmonary consumption. Use externally as a medicinal lotion for wounds, bruises, and ulcers. A distilled water constituted of the flowers is an efficient eye lotion within the remedy of conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Cautions and Contraindications
All the time train warning when utilizing wild crops. Be sure to have a optimistic identification, and check a small quantity of the plant earlier than utilizing extra.
Ox eye daisy could trigger allergic reactions. Those that are allergic to crops within the Asteraceae household are on the biggest danger. This household contains crops akin to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and plenty of different crops.
Delicate people may expertise contact dermatitis from the sesquiterpene lactones within the plant. This presents as a crimson, itchy rash. That is totally different from the phytophotodermatitis of untamed parsnips.
Different Names for Ox Eye Daisy
The oxeye daisy is also referred to as:
- frequent daisy
- white daisy
- subject daisy
- canine daisy
- poorland flower
- moon daisy
- whiteweed
- moonpenny
The Weekly Weeder Sequence
This text is a part of the Weekly Weeder sequence, which shares how you can use wild crops for meals, medication, and extra.
Different well-liked articles within the sequence embody:
This text is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie was raised on a small dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin, the place she gathered wildflowers from the woods and pastures. She and her household now reside in northeast Wisconsin, the place they mix intentional plantings and semi-wild areas. Each season is a brand new alternative to be taught extra about working with wild crops.
Initially posted in 2012, final up to date in 2024.
