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Blackfoot Daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

In stock

1 gallon

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Desert; Chihuahuan Deserts

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Mature size:

Growth rate:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun; Filtered Shade

6"x1-2'

Fast

Flower color:

Flower season:

Pruning:

white

Fall; Winter; Spring

Older plants can be cut back halfway in late winter to keep them compact.

Wildlife

Monarchs:

Nectar pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Rabbit resistant:

Yes

Blackfoot Daisy is a low-growing perennial known for its aromatic, daisy-like flowers and mounded appearance. Growing to about 6–12 inches tall and up to twice as wide, it features narrow, grayish-green foliage. The plant produces small, abundant, white flowers with a striking yellow-orange disc center. These dense blooms are highly visible from a distance and emit a light honey fragrance, making it an attractive addition to pollinator and wildflower gardens.

This hardy perennial is particularly appealing to butterflies and birds, while its deer-resistant qualities suggest it may also be resistant to rabbits. It blooms most profusely in the spring and fall, adding vibrant color to your landscape. Blackfoot Daisy is a perfect choice for rock gardens, mass plantings, or as a groundcover, and pairs beautifully with plants like Penstemon in the late winter and spring.

Native to the gravelly, dry desert slopes, rocky soils, and meadows across Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas, this plant thrives in well-drained soils. While it benefits from rich soil and moderate watering, it’s important to note that overwatering or overly fertile soils can reduce its lifespan. Blackfoot Daisy is extremely frost-hardy, making it a great choice for gardens in colder climates as well.

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on my research from reliable sources, observations I have made of plants growing in my, and other gardens I have visited, and observations of the plants in their native habitats. I would appreciate your feedback and experience to help me educate others!

Cacti: In my experience, cacti are much happier in the filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Colors are more vibrant and they bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you pay attention to how our native barrel and beavertail opuntia grow in the wild, it is frequently tucked in the rocks under creosote or another shrub.

Light Requirements: I have found that in our desert (Sonoran/Colorado) “full sun” plants can take and appreciate the late afternoon filtered sun, especially in the hot summer months.