Leucanthemum superbum Banana Cream - Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Banana Cream' is an extraordinary variety of Shasta Daisy for two reasons: its large semi-double heads display an truly unusual colour and its flowering is exceptional. The outer florets are a lemon yellow shade, gradually turning butter yellow, then fading into a creamy hue when the flower reaches full maturity. They bloom throughout the summer, enhanced by a plant with a compact and bushy habit, adorned with dark green foliage. It is also a fully hardy perennial that is easy to grow in a sunny, not too dry soil. Its flowers have excellent vase life and are perfect for borders.

The genus Leucanthemum belongs to the Asteraceae family. 'Banana Cream' is a recently developed horticultural hybrid in the United States, derived from Leucanthemum x superbum, the well-known Shasta Daisy. It is a highly unique cultivar that is particularly floriferous. It forms a dense clump of sturdy, leafy stems, taller than wide, reaching about 50 cm (20in) in height and spreading about 40 cm (16in), with a moderately fast growth rate. Abundant in summer, it completely disappears in winter. The flowering period is from July to October, provided faded flowers are regularly removed. It produces large solitary heads, measuring 7 to 8 cm (3in) in diameter, with yellow outer ligulate florets that gradually change in colour around a bright yellow-orange centre. The flower stems are very strong and ideal for cutting. The leaves are dark green, simple and alternate with regularly dentate margins. The plant reaches full maturity in five years.

In daisies, extravagant colours are not found, instead the focus is on highlighting the detail and structure of the flowers that is out of the ordinary. This summer daisy, perfect for creating bouquets, will be ideal in borders or in a meadow under fruit trees or at the back of the garden.  Pair its flowers with cosmos, combine it with peonies, columbines, asters, blue or white lupins, campanulas or snapdragons for example.