Lakeside daisy is a long-lived perennial that thrives in alvar habitat, which includes sparsely vegetated rock barrens with shallow soils. With its bright yellow flowers, lakeside daisy grows where few others can, on rocky alvar and modified alvar habitat, as well as on nearly barren limestone bedrock in full sunlight. In this harsh environment, where competition is reduced as a limited number of species will thrive in this habitat. All individuals within a given population tend to bloom about the same time, typically in May, producing the spectacular effect of a golden blanket across a rocky landscape. A variety of insects pollinate the flowers including various species of bees and flies. Viable seeds are only produced if plants are pollinated with pollen from another plant that is not genetically similar. Therefore, to maintain a self-sustaining population, the population must contain a variety of genetically diverse individuals. The species can also reproduce vegetatively by producing new rosettes although new seedlings can only grow from viable seed.

Lakeside daisy is a Great Lakes endemic plant species, meaning it is restricted to the Great Lakes region. In the United States it is known from northern Ohio, northern Illinois and a few isolated populations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In Ontario, Canada, where more alvar exists, lakeside daisy occurs along much of the southern coast of Manitoulin Island and in several restricted areas near the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Lakeside daisy is a long-lived perennial that thrives in alvar habitat, which includes sparsely vegetated rock barrens with shallow soils. Other rare plants are also adapted to this habitat. 

Threats to this species include loss of alvar habitat, which is the only habitat that supports the species, loss of genetic diversity resulting in unviable seed, shading and competition from other plants, as well as herbivory of small populations. Management at populations varies with some sites regularly managed to address shading and invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species encroachment and other sites managed sporadically. Dedicated volunteers and conservation organizations monitor some populations approximately every five years while others are monitored more or less frequently to determine population trends. 
 
To facilitate recovery, we are working with partners to collect seeds and plants from a large, unprotected site in Ohio and then transferring them to protected areas within suitable habitat to establish and then maintain new populations within its range. Each spring, seed is collected over multiple days to ensure that seed is obtained from both early blooming and later blooming plants. In addition, seed is collected from multiple sites to maintain genetic diversity as plants in close proximity are often genetically similar. In the fall plants are selected, from a large, unprotected population for transplantation to smaller populations at protected locations. Along with other partners, we are continuing efforts to establish populations in former quarries. We are also working with partners to determine, and then assess, the genetic diversity of individual populations. We also work with partners to protect and improve habitat for the species by decreasing shade and controlling invasive plants at occupied sites.