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Native Plant Society of Texas

Chocolate Daisy

Berlandiera lyrata

Other common name(s):

Chocolate Flower, Lyreleaf Greeneyes, Green-eyed Lyre Leaf

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Edwards Plateau Woodland, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Semiarid Canadian Breaks

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2
to
4
ft.

Spread

.25
to
.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Rocky, Limestone, Caliche, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Hummingbirds

Maintenance

Easy to grow. Reseeds readily. In a meadow, it can be mowed in early summer after the first wave of blooms. Use as an accent in a perennial garden, or shortgrass meadow. It can get quite tall with rich soil and abundant water, but in drier soils it is more compact. Propagation: seed,

Comments

Blooms April-November. This flower really does smell like chocolate, especially on warm days. Leaves are pale green in a rosette at the base of the plant. Longer branches are topped by flower heads with yellow rays surrounding a maroon central disc. The yellow flower petals open in late afternoon and have red to maroon veins on the underside. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Berlandiera incisa, Berlandiera lyrata var. macrophylla

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas, 2) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=2300&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BELY. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Berlandiera+lyrata&formsubmit=Search+Terms 5) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 180. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36832#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treament Collect seed in late spring, early summer. Makes seed continuously. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BELY

Chocolate Daisy

Berlandiera lyrata

Other names:

Chocolate Flower, Lyreleaf Greeneyes, Green-eyed Lyre Leaf

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Characteristics
Growth Form:
Herbaceous
Height:
2
to
4
ft.
Spread:
.25
to
.5
ft.
Leaf Retention:
Deciduous
Lifespan:
Perennial
Soil:
Sand, Loam, Rocky, Limestone, Caliche, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry
Light:
Sun, Part Shade
Water:
Low
Native Habitat:
Grassland, Woodland
Photo Credit: Paul Montgomery
Photo Credit: Paul Montgomery
Photo Credit: Claire Sorenson
Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Edwards Plateau Woodland, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Color:
Yellow
Season:
Spring, Summer, Fall
Seasonal Interest:
Forage, Nectar
Wildlife Benefit:
Browsers, Hummingbirds
Easy to grow. Reseeds readily. In a meadow, it can be mowed in early summer after the first wave of blooms. Use as an accent in a perennial garden, or shortgrass meadow. It can get quite tall with rich soil and abundant water, but in drier soils it is more compact. Propagation: seed,
Blooms April-November. This flower really does smell like chocolate, especially on warm days. Leaves are pale green in a rosette at the base of the plant. Longer branches are topped by flower heads with yellow rays surrounding a maroon central disc. The yellow flower petals open in late afternoon and have red to maroon veins on the underside. 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
Seed No Treament Collect seed in late spring, early summer. Makes seed continuously. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BELY
Previous Scientific Name(s): Berlandiera incisa, Berlandiera lyrata var. macrophylla
1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas, 2) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=2300&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BELY. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Berlandiera+lyrata&formsubmit=Search+Terms 5) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 180. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36832#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

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