Ox-eye daisy

The ox eye daisy has to be one of the most unmistakeable and spectacular flowers in the English countryside. It’s also a very common plant; forming large drifts along lanes and roadsides. It seems almost too good to be true. Such a big and specular flower must surely be a garden escape? But, no it is a true native. It gets its name from having flowers as big as a ox’s eye. Whilst there are other daisies none have such big white flowers. So if you see these big flowers you can be sure that this is what they are. For all it’s many attractions it’s not one of my favourites. It’s arrival in late summer tends to signal the “dog days’ when the fishing tails off.