If you roam across wild meadows in midsummer, you might come across them here and there. It gently raises its flower heads and shines with their white-yellow color. It is also often a guest in gardens - the marguerite.

The botanical name of the daisy is Leucanthemum

The marguerite and its properties

  • Plant family: daisy family (Asteraceae)
  • Other names: daisy, meadow marigold, large measure love
  • Natural range: Europe, North America
  • Occurrence: Meadows, roadsides, forest edges
  • Growth height: 50 to 100 cm
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • flowers: composed of ray and tubular florets
  • fruits: ribbed achenes
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Propagation: seed, cuttings
  • Hardiness: sensitive to frost
  • Specialties: Medicinal herb, edible

Focus on growth and leaves

This native plant grows upright. Depending on the species, it can reach a height of up to 1 m. The branching is either weak or well developed. Like the angular stems, the alternate leaves are finely hairy. They have a tongue-like to lanceolate shape. They are serrated on the edge. Their color describes a dark green.

When flowering begins

Towards the beginning of June, the flowering period of the marguerite begins. If you regularly prune the wilted flowers (about once a week), you will prolong the flowering period. This stimulates the marguerite to form new flowers.

The flowers are enthroned on the long and thin stems. Each stem has a flower at the end. The flower heads themselves grow between 4 and 6 cm. They consist of yellow tubular flowers, from which a sweet scent emanates. The ray florets, which are arranged in a circle around the tubular florets, can be white, red, yellow, pink or pink, depending on the variety.

Folk medicine appreciates this popular garden flower

The marguerite is popular as a garden flower. In addition to their beautiful flowers, the main reasons are their easy-care and undemanding disposition. The following applies to her: the main thing is light, warm and not necessarily dry. But this perennial is also of value in folk medicine. It can be used medicinally for colds and open wounds.

tips

You can collect the young shoots and the flowers and use them in salads, for example. They taste pleasantly spicy.

Category:

Herbs