‘Becky’ shasta daisy is considered mildly toxic to peopleand pets.
Becky Shasta Daisy Care
In proper growing conditions, ‘Becky’ shasta daisy requires little care.
The plant grows tall but rarely requires staking due to its rigid stems.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Replant the smaller clumps wherever you wish.
In climates with especially hot summers, light shade in the afternoon can be beneficial.
If your daisy grows leggy, lack of sun could be the reason.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Soil that remains wet for too long can cause root rot, ultimately killing the plants.
Shasta daisy grows well insoil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0.
Water
‘Becky’ shasta daisy is drought-tolerant requiring only moderate amounts of water.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Increase watering when your plants have noticeable signs of wilt.
Providing a layer of mulch around the plant can help protect the roots from extreme temperature fluctuations.
This daisy prefers a humidity level of 60 percent or below and does not tolerate extremely humid climates.
Humid conditions can contribute to waterlogged soil, causing the roots to rot.
Fertilizer
‘Becky’ shasta daisy only requires fertilizer if the soil is very lean.
In this instance, work a few shovels of organiccompostinto your existing garden bed before planting.
Repeat this annually in the spring for best results.
Choosing the best variety depends on your gardening goals and the planting location.
Deadheading (removing shriveled flowers) encourages more blooms and lengthens the overall bloom time.
Deadheading also helps control the spread of this aggressive perennial that easily propagates through self seeding.
Before the next growing season, prune the plant to three inches above ground.
Propagating Becky Shasta Daisy
Seasoned gardeners recommend dividing daisies each spring as soon as new growth appears.
This helps foster the vitality of the plant while also discouraging its spread.
Dividing your plants also allows you to plant divisions somewhere else on your landscape.
However, don’t expect this plant to flower in its first year.
Sow the seeds directly into your garden once the soil temperatures reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cover the seeds with 1/8 inch of soil and water them thoroughly.
Seeds should germinate in 10 to 20 days.
Once sprouted, thin healthy seedlings to achieve a two-foot margin around each plant.
Keep the soil consistently moist during the first summer of growth.
Choose a heavy, glazed ceramic pot with a drainage hole to keep the soil evenly moist and well-drained.
Consider using pot feet to elevate the pot from sitting directly on garden soil or hard surface.
Before adding soil, move the pot to its final, full-sun location.
Fill the pot with an all-purpose potting soil that contains vermiculite.
Water the plant until water drains from the drainage hole.
In warmer climates, your daisy might produce green growth throughout the winter.
Simply continue pruning the dying foliage until spring.
When infected, the plant quickly wilts and sometimes turns yellow.
Common garden pests, likeaphidsand leaf miners can also affect ‘Becky’ shasta daisies.
Overwatering will provide conditions suitable for fungus and root rot and cuts off the roots from ample oxygen.
This usually presents first on flowering stems.
Underwatering can cause the center disks of the flowers to turn brown.
If you see this happening, quickly revitalize your plant with a good watering.
With consistent care, this issue should remedy itself quickly.
Shasta daisies will bloom all summer long when cut frequently and deadheaded.
It is also helpful to divide the plant every two to three years.
‘Becky’ shasta daisy grows well alongside other summer bloomers with tall stems.
Such flowers include coneflower, rudbeckia, bee balm, and Joe Pye weed.
Ucanr.edu, 2012, https://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/files/154528.pdf
Daisy.ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/daisy
