Nipponanthemum nipponicum aka Nippon Daisy

Nipponanthemum nipponicum is in the daisy family, called Asteraceae. Gardeners know it as Nippon daisy or Montauk daisy. It comes from the coast of Japan. Honshu is listed as its native range. Its old names include Chrysanthemum nipponicum and Leucanthemum nipponicum. The name Montauk refers to a town on Long Island. The plant now grows wild there, outside its native range.

This plant lives for years and grows like a shrub. It forms an upright mound and sheds its leaves. Garden plants reach 1.5–3 feet [0.46–0.91 metres] tall and wide. It grows at a medium pace. Long stems hold the flowers above the leaves. The dark green leaves are glossy, thick, and oblong. They have coarse teeth along their edges and no hairs. Leaves can reach about 0.29 feet [0.09 metres] long. Young growth can look more like sedum than a daisy. Lower leaves often fall and leave the stem bases bare.

The flower heads have white rays around green or yellow discs. Sources give different sizes for these heads. Missouri Botanical Garden lists widths of 0.17–0.25 feet [0.05–0.08 metres]. NC State lists widths of 0.25–0.5 feet [0.08–0.15 metres]. Most blooms appear from September through October. Plants can flower in their first season of growth. The blooms draw butterflies. Chicago Botanic Garden lists birds as well. Cut stems last well in fresh displays of flowers.

Full sun suits this plant best. It can take light shade where summers are hot. Give it soil that drains well, such as loam or sand. It can grow in poor soil too. Missouri Botanical Garden favors dry soil. It also notes that the plant can cope with drought. Chicago Botanic Garden calls for a moderate amount of water. NC State says it can cope with some salt. This trait adds value in gardens near the coast. The broader hardiness range covers USDA zones 5–9. Chicago lists a narrower range of zones 5–7.

Use it in borders, groups, or rock gardens. It also suits beds grown to cope with drought. Smaller plants in front can hide the bare lower stems. A light spring trim helps keep growth compact and bushy. Remove old flower heads to help encourage more blooms. Divide clumps every two or three years to keep growth strong. Missouri Botanical Garden reports few serious pest or disease problems. Leaf spots, stem rots, and leaf miners can occur. These problems are not frequent.