Melampodium leucanthum
blackfoot daisy
Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Overview
Melampodium leucanthum, blackfoot daisy, is a low, mounding perennial of the aster family from the dry Southwest, forming a tidy dome 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. The narrow, gray-green leaves are 0.5-2 inches (1.5-5 cm) long and slightly hairy, clothing many slender branched stems. Small daisy heads about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across cover the mound, each with 8 to 10 white ray petals around a yellow central disc, and carry a light honey scent. Bloom is long, running from spring through fall and sometimes nearly year-round in mild climates, peaking after rain. It grows on rocky, limestone or caliche slopes and dry plains across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, on lean, fast-draining, often alkaline soil. The plant is drought and heat tolerant once established and needs little care, but it is short-lived where soil holds moisture and rots quickly in wet or heavy ground. Melampodium leucanthum suits rock gardens, dry borders, and gravel plantings, forming a compact mound that needs sharp drainage and full sun to persist.
Native Range
Melampodium leucanthum is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from Arizona and Colorado east through New Mexico and Texas. It grows on dry, rocky limestone and caliche slopes, mesas, and plains, often on alkaline soil.Suggested Uses
Melampodium leucanthum is used in rock gardens, xeriscapes, dry borders, and gravel or container plantings in hot, dry sites. Its long bloom draws bees and butterflies through the warm season.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Colors
Bloom Information
Flowering is long, from spring through fall and nearly continuous in frost-free areas, with flushes following rain. Individual heads last about a week, and the mound stays dotted with flowers through the season. Small dark seeds ripen between flushes, the dark seed base giving rise to the blackfoot name.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white with yellow centerFoliage Description
gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Melampodium leucanthum in full sun in lean, gritty, fast-draining soil with a neutral to alkaline pH of about 7.0 to 8.5. It tolerates heat, drought, and poor rocky ground and needs only occasional deep watering in extreme dry spells. Wet, rich, or poorly drained soil shortens its life and causes crown rot, so sharp drainage is the main requirement. Light shearing after a bloom flush keeps the mound dense and brings on more flowers. Plants are short-lived but self-sow modestly to maintain a patch.Pruning
Shear lightly after heavy bloom flushes to tidy the mound and spur new flowers. Cut back winter-worn growth in early spring. No heavy pruning is needed on this small, naturally compact plant.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons