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Blackfoot Daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

true

1 gallon

Blackfoot Daisy

In stock

6"x1-2'

Sizes:

Blackfoot Daisy – Melampodium leucanthum

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, 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.

Wildlife Value
Blackfoot Daisy supports a variety of pollinators and seed-eating birds, especially in dry, open habitats.

Host Plant: Larval host for bordered patch butterfly (Chlosyne lacinia) in parts of its range.

Nectar Source: Potential Cloudless Sulphur (P. sennae) + other sulphurs, native bees, honeybees.

Bird Resources: Seeds, insects, and nectar.

Bird Species: Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura).

Bees: Attracts numerous native bees, including sweat bees (Halictidae), leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.), and honeybees.

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Desert; Chihuahuan Deserts

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun; Filtered Shade

Mature size:

6"x1-2'

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

white

Flower season:

Fall; Winter; Spring

Pruning:

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

Cold Hardiness:

20 Degrees - can survive 0 degrees but will die back

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.