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Chocolate Flower

Berlandiera lyrata

true

1 gallon

Chocolate Flower

In stock

1’x2’

Sizes:

Chocolate Flower – Berlandiera lyrata

Chocolate flower is a tough little herbaceous perennial wildflower native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, found across the southwestern U.S. and into Mexico. While it is not locally native to the Coachella Valley, it thrives here as a cultivated plant and adapts well to dry, sandy to rocky soils when given occasional supplemental water in summer. In its natural range it grows from 4,000 to 7,000 feet, often in disturbed areas, on plains and mesas, and along roadsides.

Forming a tidy mound about a foot tall and up to two feet wide, it reseeds easily and is great for filling in sunny spots in the garden. The yellow daisy-like flowers, each with a dark maroon center, bloom in warm weather throughout the year here, with the heaviest flush in spring and summer. Famous for their chocolate scent—strongest in the early morning and evening—the blooms hint at adaptation to nocturnal pollinators such as moths, though they also draw a wide range of daytime visitors. The flowers rise on slender stems above a base of bright green, fiddle-shaped foliage.

It’s usually left alone by deer and rabbits thanks to its fragrant foliage, though young plants may need protection in areas with heavy browsing or in drought years when food is scarce. Give it a light trim if it starts to look scraggly to encourage fresh growth. In smaller patio areas or along borders, the fragrance can be best appreciated.

Wildlife Value:
Nectar Source: Painted Lady; skippers; native bees; honey bees; nocturnal moths
Bird Resources: Insect prey; seeds
Bird Species: Verdin; Black-throated Sparrow; finches

Plant Care

Native region:

Sonoran Desert

Water needs:

Low-Moderate

Exposure:

Full Sun; Part Shade

Mature size:

1’x2’

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Yellow

Flower season:

Late Spring-Fall

Pruning:

In late winter to rejuvenate

Cold Hardiness:

-30 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

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.