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Tahoka Daisy

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia

Other common name(s):

Tansyaster, Tansy-aster, Tansey-leaf, Tansyleaf Tansyaster

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands
Broken Red Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, Purple, Violet

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Often naturalized in a short grass meadow or on a rocky slope or other hard to maintain area. Also used to plant between flagstones. Periodic watering will encourage blooms. Shake out seeds when you pull up the dead plants and allow the new ones to come up where they will. Good drainage is required for success.

Comments

Blooms March-October. Flower heads with many bright purple, very narrow rays surrounding a yellow central disc. Densely covered with sharp-pointed, deeply cut leaves which appear fern-like. Plants often form clumps or mounds.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Aster tanacetifolius, Machaeranthera coronopifolia, Machaeranthera parthenium

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MATA2. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Machaeranthera+tanacetifolia&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=3750&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg 245. pg 158-159. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38013#null

Get in Touch

Contact the State

Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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