The ox eye not only cuts a fine figure in the great outdoors. In the home garden you can enjoy the pretty flowers all summer long.
While taking a walk through nature, the willow-leaved oxeye (Buphtalmum salicifolium), also known as the daisy, can be found in many places. The native wild perennial belongs to the daisy family and is found in Central Europe on sunny forest edges or on calcareous poor meadows. The yellow flower heads, which appear from June, attract bees and other insects to the garden. Any natural garden can be upgraded with this robust and free-flowering wild perennial.
The oxeye thrives particularly well on the edge of trees. Planting in the rock garden also meets the natural requirements of the plant. Alternatively, pot planting is possible. With this you can bring the natural charm of the plant to your patio at home.
| Oxeye willow-leaf, marguerite (Buphthalmum salicifolium) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | bushy to densely bushy, clumpy |
| Growth: | 40 - 500 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 40 cm |
| Flowering: | June to August |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | dry to fresh, well-drained, pH from 7.0 to 8.0 |
Find the right location for the oxeye
The plant is best displayed in a sunny location. The ox-eye tolerates partial shade, but is then usually less floriferous. Even temporary drought cannot harm the plant. Waterlogging, on the other hand, is not tolerated. Likewise, the plants do not thrive in an acidic substrate. Planted in full shade, you will have to do without the flowers of the oxeye.
In the natural garden, the oxeye can roam undisturbed in the company of other wildflowers. The wild perennial has a high ornamental value and can therefore also provide a pleasant summery lightness in borders. From June, the perennial is in bloom and there are harmonious group plantings in connection with bluebells, meadow sage orLoosestrife.
Tip: The oxeye is one of the most persistent domestic flowering plants.
The ideal substrate for the oxeye
Fresh and well-drained garden soil is a prerequisite for he althy growth. Heavy clay soils are not suitable. But you can make the soil more permeable by mixing in sand or gravel. So that the moisture can drain off well and waterlogging does not occur, drainage should be placed in the soil when planting.
Planting the oxeye - step by step
1. Determine location2. Prepare substrate
3. Dig planting hole
4. Insert drainage5. Insert plants
6. Close planting hole
7. Press soil
8. Water plants
You can plant up to twelve plants per square meter. If the plants are not divided, lush perennials develop that can survive in their place for up to 20 years.
Watering the ox eye properly
The plants cope better with longer periods of drought than with a substrate that is permanently too moist. Moderate irrigation is used during prolonged dry periods. It is better to water the plants a little more frequently than to wash them in once. The floor should be allowed to dry well in the meantime.
Tip: Water the oxeye in the morning or evening. Then the sun is less intense and the liquid does not evaporate but can penetrate the soil.
Fertilize the bull's eye properly
Fertilization is not necessary. If the soil is slightly acidic, occasional application of lime can be beneficial. A noticeably poor soil can be enriched with mature compost when planting. This organic long-term fertilizer provides the plants with all the necessary nutrients in the first year.
Cutting the Ox Eye
The oxeye is cut back in late autumn. You should remove faded flowers regularly. This can stimulate the plant to flower twice.
Tip: If you cut back the oxeye in a controlled manner, the plant will not continuously self-seed. Here's how to control its spread.
An overview of the best planting and care tips
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Find location | • sunny to semi-shady |
| Prepare substrate | • fresh • dry • permeable • calcareous |
| Casting | • atwater during prolonged drought • avoid waterlogging |
| Fertilize | • occasional addition of lime • mix in compost on poor soil |
| Cut | • Cut back in spring or after flowering |
Increase the ox-eye
In a favorable location, the oxeye takes care of its own reproduction and sows itself. By sowing and dividing, the hobby gardener can take the propagation into his own hands.
The plants can be divided in spring. To do this, they are completely dug out of the ground. The root ball is divided with a sharp spade and the new plants can move to a new location and be cultivated as usual.
Wintering the Oxeye
No winter protection is necessary for this robust plant. The ox-eye can tolerate temperatures down to -35 degrees and can therefore be brought over the cold season in our latitudes without any problems.