Blackfoot daisy

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light afternoon shade in very hot climates, but flowers less in shade.

Water

Low once established. Water new plants regularly while they root, then let the soil dry between deep waterings.

Soil

Lean, sharply drained sandy, gravelly or rocky soil; tolerates limestone and alkaline conditions. Avoid heavy clay and persistently damp soil.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

White daisies with yellow centres from spring to autumn in warm climates; mainly late spring through summer in colder areas. Flowering may pause during severe drought.

Foliage

Narrow, slightly hairy, grey-green leaves on branching stems; evergreen in mild climates, but foliage may die back in cold winters.

Growth

Moderate; often reaches a useful flowering size in its first growing season.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sunny spot with excellent drainage.
• Water during establishment, then water deeply only when the soil has dried; avoid frequent lawn irrigation.
• Skip routine feeding; rich soil and heavy fertilising encourage loose growth and fewer flowers.
• Use a thin gravel mulch rather than moisture-holding organic mulch, keeping the crown uncovered.
• In wet climates, use a raised gravel bed or a container with unobstructed drainage holes.

Pruning. In early spring, remove dead or winter-damaged stems and lightly trim the remaining growth to maintain a compact mound. A light trim after a flowering flush can tidy the plant; avoid cutting hard into old, leafless stems.

Spring

Plant after severe frosts have passed, using a sharply drained bed or container.

Early spring

Remove winter damage and lightly shape established plants as new growth begins.

Late spring

Check that new plants are rooting well, then gradually lengthen the interval between waterings.

Summer

Water established plants only during extended dry spells; lightly trim sprawling growth after a flowering flush.

Autumn

Collect ripe, dry seed heads if you want to raise replacement plants.

Winter

Keep the crown free of wet leaves and check that rain drains away promptly.

• Edge sunny gravel paths with low mounds of white flowers.
• Plant among rocks and small boulders, where its soft outline contrasts with stone.
• Combine with red yucca, agaves and small ornamental grasses in a dry border.
• Use in a well-drained patio container where garden soil stays too wet.
• Repeat small groups through a southwestern native planting to provide flowers near ground level.

Garden styles it suits: Desert / xeriscape, Southwestern, Dry gravel garden, Pollinator garden, Texas Hill Country and White garden.

Plant it with: Red yucca, Autumn sage, Damianita, Blue grama, Purple prairie clover and Parry's agave.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for native bees, small butterflies and other visiting insects.

• Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised gravel bed; replace badly rotted plants.
• Loose, floppy growth with fewer flowers: provide more sun, stop fertilising and reduce unnecessary watering.
• Winter losses in damp climates: keep the crown dry and exposed, avoid thick organic mulch and use a freely draining container if necessary.
• Sparse growth during prolonged drought: give an occasional deep watering once the soil is dry rather than frequent shallow irrigation.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, and no particular plant part is recognised as poisonous. Species-specific toxicity information is limited, so do not treat it as edible or allow pets or livestock to eat large quantities.

• Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

  Oxeye daisy grows much taller, with larger flower heads and broad, toothed lower leaves. Blackfoot daisy forms a low mound with narrow, grey-green leaves.

• Engelmann daisy (Engelmannia peristenia)

  Engelmann daisy has yellow ray petals, deeply lobed leaves and taller flower stems. Blackfoot daisy has white ray petals and narrow, mostly unlobed leaves.

The species name leucanthum means 'white-flowered', referring to the white ray petals.

Propagation. Sow seed in a freely draining mix in spring, covering it lightly. Seedlings can vary in vigour, and germination may be uneven. Softwood cuttings taken during active growth are another option.

Accepted botanical name

Melampodium leucanthum

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.