Daisies have long been a favorite flower among gardeners. They are easy to grow, have a pleasant appearance, and come back year after year.

Shasta daisies can offer an interesting departure from the typical daisy appearance. The Missouri Botanical Garden says the name is a reference to Mount Shasta, a California peak near where the hybrid plant was first developed. One cultivar is also nicknamed "crazy daisy" because the rays have a frilly appearance, making the flower look like it is made of shredded coconut.

Varieties of Shasta daisy are defined by white rays around a yellow central disk, as well as coarse-toothed, shiny, dark green leaves. The flowers will grow in tight clusters, and typically reach heights of up to two-and-a-half feet. David Beaulieu, writing for the home design site The Spruce, says some varieties can grow up to four feet tall.

Shasta daisies work well as perennial borders, in containers, and in cut flower displays. They will attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and are also deer resistant.

After blooming, Shasta daisies will remain in your garden for several months. The Old Farmer's Almanac says they tend to appear in spring or early summer, and will stay in place until the autumn. Seeds planted in the late summer or fall will bloom in the following year.

You can also start the plant indoors before transferring it outside. The gardening company Burpee says seeds planted in cells should be started eight weeks before the last frost of the season. Shasta daisies can be moved to the gardens when they have at least two sets of true leaves, since this will indicate that the root system has grown strong enough to withstand outdoor conditions.

The plant will grow best in an area with full sunlight. The Missouri Botanical Garden says light shade can be beneficial if you are using drier soil or if your garden gets particularly hot during the summer.

Soil should drain well. Mix in a layer of manure, compost, or other rotted organic material to help promote growth. Loosely cover the seeds with about one-eighth of an inch of soil.

The organic material may provide enough nutrients to support the Shasta daisies, although they can also benefit from fertilizer. White Flower Farm, a Litchfield nursery, recommends adding a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in the spring.

Shasta daisies are tolerant of dry conditions, so you don't need to worry too much about regular watering. The Old Farmer's Almanac says you only need to water the flowers when your garden has received less than an inch of natural rainfall in a week.

Although the plant usually requires minimal maintenance, it can still be vulnerable to some problems. You may need to add stakes or other supports for taller varieties. Beaulieu says you may also need to remove pests such as aphids, earwigs, leaf miners, or slugs.

You'll also need to care for the flowers to keep them from getting too crowded or faded. Remove spent blooms to encourage further flowering. Shasta daisies should also be divided every two or three years.

Take some additional steps to protect the plant after the first hard frost. The Old Farmer's Almanac says Shasta daisies should be cut back so the stems are about an inch off the ground after this point. Burpee recommends putting down more mulch to protect the plot against particularly cold temperatures; evergreen boughs from a Christmas tree can be added in the winter and removed in the spring to further preserve warmth.