Japanese name: フランスギク Scientific name:Leucanthemum vulgare
[Overview]
A perennial 60–100 cm tall.
The base of the stem becomes woody, and the whole plant is hairless.
There are basal leaves and stem leaves; the basal leaves are spatulate, 4–15 cm long and about 5 cm wide, with toothed or serrate margins and leaf stalks.
The stem leaves are alternate, without leaf stalks, and their bases slightly clasp the stem.
The flower heads are about 3–6 cm across.
The ray florets around the edge of the flower head are white, and the tubular florets in the center are yellow.
The fruit is an achene.
[History]
It was introduced in the late Edo period.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by stem cuttings.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, fertile soil, but avoid the strong western sun in summer.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
In addition to a base fertilizer, apply slow-release chemical fertilizer in spring.
Aphids can occur.
