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Native Plant Society of Texas

Greeneyes

Berlandiera betonicifolia

Other common name(s):

Broochflower

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

East Central Texas Plains, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
4
ft.

Spread

0.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Calcareous, Deep, Well Drained, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Bees

Maintenance

Drought and heat tolerant. Easy to grow. Works well in a native grass meadow and xeriscapes. Likes well drained soils. Cut back spent blooms after seeds are dispersed. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms April-November. Upright form with multiple stems. Yellow daisy flowers with green center. Leaves triangular to lance-shaped, slightly hairy, margins toothed. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Berlandiera texana, Berlandiera texana var. betonicifolia, Berlandiera ×betonicifolia

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Some sources say this is not the most reliable method. That said, make a clean cut just below the node, and remove any leaves from the lower half of the stem. Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder, and plant it in a pot filled with moist, well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a bright, warm location. After a few weeks, you should see new growth, which indicates that roots have formed. Choose a healthy stem with several leaves and a node (where the leaves attach to the stem). https://plantiary.com/plant/berlandiera-betonicifolia_24320.html#:~:text=Propagation:%20Besides%20growing%20from%20seeds,time%20to%20water%20the%20plant.
Root Division Carefully dig up the plant and gently separate the roots into smaller clumps, being careful not to damage the roots. Replant each clump in a new location, making sure to water it well. Best done in early spring, before the plant begins to actively grow. https://plantiary.com/plant/berlandiera-betonicifolia_24320.html#:~:text=Propagation:%20Besides%20growing%20from%20seeds,time%20to%20water%20the%20plant.
Seed No Treatment Plant the seeds in a pot filled with moist, well-draining soil and cover with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a bright, warm location. The seeds should germinate within a few weeks. Wait until the seed pods have turned brown and dried on the plant. Collect the pods and remove the seeds. https://plantiary.com/plant/berlandiera-betonicifolia_24320.html#:~:text=Propagation:%20Besides%20growing%20from%20seeds,time%20to%20water%20the%20plant.
Seed Stratification Mix seeds with moist vermiculite or peat moss and storing them in a refrigerator (35-40°F) for 6-8 weeks before sowing. Sow seeds in a well-draining seed starting mix, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. A warm and sunny location, whether indoors or outdoors under protection, is ideal. Thin seedlings to reduce competition. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-berlandiera-betonicifolia/

Greeneyes

Berlandiera betonicifolia

Other names:

Broochflower

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Characteristics
Growth Form:
Herbaceous
Height:
1
to
4
ft.
Spread:
0.5
to
1
ft.
Leaf Retention:
Deciduous
Lifespan:
Perennial
Soil:
Calcareous, Deep, Well Drained, Moist
Light:
Part Shade
Water:
Low
Native Habitat:
Grassland
Photo Credit: Flaigg, Norman G., https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=5071
Photo Credit: Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=16713
East Central Texas Plains, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands
Color:
Yellow
Season:
Spring, Summer, Fall
Seasonal Interest:
Nectar, Pollen
Wildlife Benefit:
Butterflies, Bees
Drought and heat tolerant. Easy to grow. Works well in a native grass meadow and xeriscapes. Likes well drained soils. Cut back spent blooms after seeds are dispersed. Propagation: seed.
Blooms April-November. Upright form with multiple stems. Yellow daisy flowers with green center. Leaves triangular to lance-shaped, slightly hairy, margins toothed. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Some sources say this is not the most reliable method. That said, make a clean cut just below the node, and remove any leaves from the lower half of the stem. Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder, and plant it in a pot filled with moist, well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a bright, warm location. After a few weeks, you should see new growth, which indicates that roots have formed. Choose a healthy stem with several leaves and a node (where the leaves attach to the stem). https://plantiary.com/plant/berlandiera-betonicifolia_24320.html#:~:text=Propagation:%20Besides%20growing%20from%20seeds,time%20to%20water%20the%20plant.
Root Division Carefully dig up the plant and gently separate the roots into smaller clumps, being careful not to damage the roots. Replant each clump in a new location, making sure to water it well. Best done in early spring, before the plant begins to actively grow. https://plantiary.com/plant/berlandiera-betonicifolia_24320.html#:~:text=Propagation:%20Besides%20growing%20from%20seeds,time%20to%20water%20the%20plant.
Seed No Treatment Plant the seeds in a pot filled with moist, well-draining soil and cover with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a bright, warm location. The seeds should germinate within a few weeks. Wait until the seed pods have turned brown and dried on the plant. Collect the pods and remove the seeds. https://plantiary.com/plant/berlandiera-betonicifolia_24320.html#:~:text=Propagation:%20Besides%20growing%20from%20seeds,time%20to%20water%20the%20plant.
Seed Stratification Mix seeds with moist vermiculite or peat moss and storing them in a refrigerator (35-40°F) for 6-8 weeks before sowing. Sow seeds in a well-draining seed starting mix, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. A warm and sunny location, whether indoors or outdoors under protection, is ideal. Thin seedlings to reduce competition. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-berlandiera-betonicifolia/
Previous Scientific Name(s): Berlandiera texana, Berlandiera texana var. betonicifolia, Berlandiera ×betonicifolia

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason