WE are all familiar with the old-fashioned Marguerite or Shasta Daisy, Leucanthemum x superbum, with its bold white flowers in early to mid summer but few gardens grow the golden version, Anthemis tinctoria, that has come into its summer glory recently.
It has outer petals of the most delicate yellow and the central flower head of an intense buttercup yellow.
These numerous flowers are supported by fine, feathery, silvery-green foliage that in a dry, sunny position in the garden exaggerates itself.
The wild species originates from Southern Europe, giving us a hint of the climatic conditions that it prefers, but over the years many excellent cultivars have been developed that are worth searching out. ‘E.C.Buxton’ is one of the most popular with lemon yellow flower heads up to 60cm (2ft) high. ‘Wargrave Variety’ is another worthy cultivar as is ‘Beauty of Grallack’ that has orange-gold flowers. ‘Sauce Hollandaise’ has almost white flowers with very dark gren foliage.
Look out for the mat forming species, Anthemis punctoria cupaniana that is a perfect specimen for a gravel garden or a sunny bank, with is white flower heads above silvery-green foliage. It only reaches 30cm (12ins) high in flower and may give you two flushes of flower if you remove the first flush immediately it has finished.
Don’t forget that, being open daisy flowers, Anthemis are very good for supporting predatory insects such as Hoverflies that will help to reduce populations of aphids in your garden.
