Shasta

I have what looks like a Shasta Daisy (it was bought at a church plant sale and only labelled "daisy") which fills a corner of the garden nicely until it gets huge! I've read they should be 2 to 3 feet high but this one towers over my mother and must be 6 feet high and seems to be getting bigger each year (and inevitably flops as the summer goes on).

I've given it sturdy supports to grow through this year but wondered if giving it a "chelsea chop" while it is about half its final height might encourage it to stick to the normal 3 foot high (which would be more attractive as you can't see the flowers when they are up so high) or whether we would just be left with leaves and no flowers.

What does anyone think?

 

The older varieties of Shasta dasiy, like Wirral Supreme and Wirral something else were tall plants, especially in decent soil. It is the newer ones which are shorter in stature. Never bother with the Chelsea chop on anything so cannot help there.

 

Thank you Palustris, for confirming it is a Shasta Daisy - and it is comforting to know it may be an old variety rather than a monster! I’ll see if it behaves itself with better support this year.