Montauk Daisy
Nipponanthemum Nipponicum
"Add some late-season color by planting this daisy in your garden"
The Montauk Daisy, sometime called Nippon Daisy, is a hardy upright herbacaceous perennial which can grow to 3 feet tall and wide. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, sometimes remaining green in warmer climates. It grows best in full, all-day sunlight. Can tolerate light shade in the afternoon or dappled sunlight in hot areas. The Montauk daisy will survive dry soil and brief drought periods with minimal damage but weekly watering results in better growth and more flowers. Provide no more than one inch of water weekly if there has been no rain the previous week. The daisy grows best in average soil which is well drained. It blooms in late summer into fall when the weather cools.
The Montauk daisy is deer and rabbit resistant due to its pungent odor. However it does attract and provide nectar for late season butterflies. Also will attract bees. Trim all stems in early spring and allow the fresh buds at the base to develop. This prevents them from becoming woody if they don’t die back to the ground each winter. The plants need to be divided about every three years when the center of the plant begins to die out. Also pinching back the tips into early summer will encourage more branching and flowers.
The Montauk daisy is generally low maintenance with few problems. Fungal diseases, such as stem rot and leaf spot, can cause minor damage. Avoiding overhead watering or watering too much helps prevent these diseases. Also a light 1 to 2 inch layer of mulch can be beneficial because it prevents the water and spore-containing soil from splashing on the foliage. Despite its Japanese origin, it naturalized itself around Montauk Lighthouse on Long Island New York. Cuttings can be easily rooted by sticking them in the soil where you want new plants or into a pot of sand, keeping moist and out of direct sunlight.
References:
"A Garden for All"
"Dave's Garden"
hgtvgardens.com
eHow.com
The Montauk daisy is deer and rabbit resistant due to its pungent odor. However it does attract and provide nectar for late season butterflies. Also will attract bees. Trim all stems in early spring and allow the fresh buds at the base to develop. This prevents them from becoming woody if they don’t die back to the ground each winter. The plants need to be divided about every three years when the center of the plant begins to die out. Also pinching back the tips into early summer will encourage more branching and flowers.
The Montauk daisy is generally low maintenance with few problems. Fungal diseases, such as stem rot and leaf spot, can cause minor damage. Avoiding overhead watering or watering too much helps prevent these diseases. Also a light 1 to 2 inch layer of mulch can be beneficial because it prevents the water and spore-containing soil from splashing on the foliage. Despite its Japanese origin, it naturalized itself around Montauk Lighthouse on Long Island New York. Cuttings can be easily rooted by sticking them in the soil where you want new plants or into a pot of sand, keeping moist and out of direct sunlight.
References:
"A Garden for All"
"Dave's Garden"
hgtvgardens.com
eHow.com
