Blackfoot Daisy

Blackfoot Daisy is a perennial forb native to Edwards Plateau, Trans-Pecos, South Texas Plains. It grows best in full sun with low water needs.

Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) blooms almost continuously from March through November in the Texas Hill Country and Trans-Pecos. White flowers with yellow centers cover the compact mound all season, and the plant requires almost no input to stay in bloom. It is native to alkaline rocky soils and actually performs worse with fertilizer.

Blackfoot Daisy is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats. The plant stays 12-18 inches tall and 12-24 inches wide, a size that fits naturally in foundation beds and along walkways. The long bloom season, compact form, and familiar daisy look make it one of the most HOA-compatible natives in its range.

Ecoregion notes for Texas. In the Edwards Plateau and Hill Country (alkaline limestone, rocky outcrops, 25-35 inches of rain): native and ideal. Plant in full sun, skip fertilizer, water monthly in summer once established. In the Trans-Pecos and South Texas Plains (alkaline desert and brush country): also native; one of the most drought-tolerant natives available. In the Blackland Prairie (DFW, Austin, San Antonio): not native but adapts to well-drained spots; plant on a south or west facing slope or raised berm to keep roots dry. In the Pineywoods: not recommended; the acidic wet soil kills it.

Blackfoot Daisy pairs with Texas Sage, Prairie Verbena, and Damianita for a drought-tough, long-season front yard bed. Light trimming after heavy bloom flushes encourages reblooming. It is short-lived in humid locations; plan to replant every 2-3 years east of I-35. In its native range west of I-35, established plants can persist for a decade.

Bee species data compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, Discover Life, and the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab. Plant-pollinator associations informed by published ecological literature.