Shasta Daisy, Madonna

Madonna Shasta Daisy brings the cheerful, classic look of white petals and golden centers to the sunny summer border, opening its flowers in waves from summer through fall for a long season of brightness. Growing 24 to 36 inches tall with a mounding habit, it fills in beautifully at mid-border and makes a generous cutting garden contribution—one of those perennials that always seems to earn its keep twice over, once in the ground and again in a vase. The crisp white blooms are a natural partner for summer blues and purples, creating the kind of classic color combination that works in almost any garden style. Deer, rabbits, and most garden pests leave it alone, and it tolerates the conditions of a hot summer border with remarkable resilience. Mass planting amplifies the effect considerably, turning a sunny slope or border section into a sweep of clean white from midsummer through early fall. Deadheading spent flowers extends the bloom season; dividing every few years keeps the clumps vigorous and freely flowering.