Blackfoot daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

Family:: Asteraceae
Elevation:: 2,000 ft – 6,500 ft
Bloom:: Mar – Oct
Region:: Southwest

A tidy, low mound smothered for much of the year in small white daisies with sunny yellow centers, giving off a faint honey scent. One of the longest-blooming and most dependable native groundcovers of the Southwest.

Care · tuned to the Southwest

Water

Very drought tolerant; water sparingly. Overwatering and heavy, poorly drained soil are the top causes of a short life and rot. Perks up and reblooms with monsoon rains.

Sun & exposure

Full sun; tolerates reflected heat. Too much shade causes flopping and sparse bloom.

Soil

Insists on excellent drainage — rocky, gravelly, sandy, or caliche soils are ideal. Naturally a limestone/alkaline plant; avoid rich, moisture-holding soil.

In the Southwest

Cold hardy to around 0°F. Often short-lived but reseeds modestly to renew itself. A light shearing tidies the mound and prolongs bloom. Nectar source for small native bees and butterflies.

Common problems & fixes

Root rot in heavy or wet soil — young plants collapse in clay or overwatered beds
Fix — Plant in gritty, sharply drained soil, water sparingly, and keep water off the crown.
Short-lived but self-sows — plants fade after a few years, leaving gaps
Fix — Leave spent flowers to reseed and thin volunteers, treating it as self-renewing rather than permanent.

Pets & toxicity

Not known to be toxic to dogs or cats.

Easy to confuse with

Desert zinnia (Zinnia acerosa) — narrow needle-like leaves and creamier petals
Angelita daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis) — all-yellow flowers on leafless stalks

Sources

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