Shasta daisy vs Montauk daisy
Both are big white daisies with yellow centres, but they flower months apart. Shasta daisy flowers in high summer, from July, on upright stems. Montauk daisy, from the coast of Japan and once called a chrysanthemum, flowers in October, when almost nothing else does, on a rounded, shrubby plant with thick, glossy leaves that stand salt wind and sandy soil. Both want full sun; Montauk daisy takes drier soil.
| Shasta daisy 'Becky' Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky' |  Montauk daisyNipponanthemum nipponicum | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 3½ ft tall, 24 in wide | 3 ft tall, 3 ft wide |
| Plant | 24 in apart | 2½ ft apart |
| Zones | 5 to 9 | 5 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility | Dry and sharply drained, average fertility |
| Flowers | Early July to early September; white | Mid September to late October; white |
| Leaves | Medium, semi-evergreen | Medium, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Drift | Drift |
| Pets | Toxic (mild) | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | No record | Not listed as resistant |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose Shasta daisy 'Becky' for a longer show (10 weeks of flower against 7).
- Choose Montauk daisy for a garden with pets.
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. What Montauk daisy brings beside Shasta daisy 'Becky': takes over when it finishes, flowering from mid September. They share full sun and zones 5 to 9.
Read more: all about Shasta daisy 'Becky', and all about Montauk daisy, each with a bed the planner designed around it.