Nipponanthemum nipponicum

Nipponanthemum nipponicum

Nippon daisy
Binomial:	Nipponanthemum nipponicum
Type:	Perennial to sub-shrub
Light requirements:	Full sun to light shade
Water requirements:	Drought tolerant
Propagation:	Cuttings, layering
Pruning tolerance:	High
Pest issues:	Few
Disease issues:	Few
Bloom season:	Mid- to late autumn
Harvest:	Long lasting cut flower
Weediness:	Occasionally self-seeds
Pollination:	Insects
Height and spread:	3 ft tall with a wider spread

The Nippon daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum, synonyms include Chrysanthemum nipponicum and Leucanthemum nipponicum) is a large bushy perennial which is grown for its good foliage and the large daisy-like flowers in mid- to late autumn.

Description

The plant grows as a mounded, shrub-like perennial up to 3 ft. tall with a wider spread. The leaves are a good dark green, and can be semi-evergreen. Flowers are heads 2-4" wide, with white rays and yellow disks. Stems are stout, green but turning light brown when old, and can root at the nodes if they are allowed to contact the soil.

Growing conditions

Nippon daisy prefers full sun and a rich, well-drained soil. It can survive drought but may wilt temporarily if the soil becomes extremely dry. This plant becomes very large very quickly, so should be sited somewhere where there is ample space.

Varieties

While there are few cultivars of this species, it has been used as a parent plant for hybrid chrysanthemums.

Uses

Grown for fall display and as a cut flower.

Maintenance

The plants can be cut back by 1/2 in midsummer to encourage a more compact, bushy habit, but it will be completely covered in blooms at the end of the season even if not cut back.

Propagation

Propagate by layering or division. Cuttings with buds can be rooted indoors over winter and planted outdoors in spring, but will not mature enough to bloom for several years.

Harvesting

As a cut flower, Nippon daisy has a long life in the vase if cut soon after they fully expand. Unopened flowers do not mature well.

Pests and diseases

This plant rarely has serious problems, but can get the same pests and diseases as Chrysanthemums.

References

PLANTS database page, USDA