Plant Profile: Melampodium leucanthum

Blackfoot Daisy, a resilient perennial wildflower belonging to the Asteraceae family, features a low, rounded, and upright growth habit. This hardy plant can reach heights of up to 4 feet and is particularly well-suited for rock gardens, where it thrives. It produces vibrant yellow flower heads that bloom throughout the summer and continue until the first frost. In addition to rock gardens, Blackfoot Daisy is ideal for mass plantings, borders, or as a focal point in flower beds.

This species thrives in full sunlight and should be planted deeply in the soil. It exhibits excellent heat and drought resistance, making it suitable for nutritionally poor soils. To maintain a compact shape, older plants can be pruned back by half in late winter. At first glance, Blackfoot Daisy may resemble White Zinnia (Zinnia acerosa), but the latter features flower heads with 4-7 broad white rays and a narrow base of overlapping scales. Additionally, Blackfoot Daisy is a low-water plant that prefers dry conditions and well-drained, moist soil. As a taprooted species, it does not require division.

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