Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Blackfoot Daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

Other common name(s):

Rock Daisy, Plains Blackfoot, Arnica

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

0.5
to
1.5
ft.

Spread

1
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Limestone, Caliche, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

Prune lightly if leggy or to remove dead material. Can be tricky to get established. Good drainage is essential to its success. Does not like rich soil or wet feet or fertilizer. Our natural rainfall is enough for this plant. Will flourish in rock gardens. It is heat and drought tolerant. Flowers have a pleasant honey scent. Prefers dry, calcareous substrates. Can be grown in container gardens. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms March-November. A low, mounding, plant with small, daisy shaped flowers. White ray flowers surround a small yellow central disc. It is covered with small, narrow leaves. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. Can be mistaken for White Zinnia (Zinnia acerosa).

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment It can be directly seeded outdoors one to two weeks after the last frost in spring after the soil temperature reaches at least 70°F. Barely cover the seeds with soil, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist. Seedlings will appear in one to two weeks, after which you can thin them 10 to 15 inches apart, depending on the cultivar. You can also start the seeds indoors in pots or seed trays about six weeks before the last expected frost date to get a head start on the growing season. Easily self-seeds or collect seeds from dry seed heads. https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/melampodium/#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Melampodium,start%20on%20the%20growing%20season.
Stem Cutting Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder. Plant the cutting in a well-draining potting mix and water thoroughly. Place in a warm, bright spot with indirect sunlight and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Watch for new growth and roots in 4-6 weeks. Once the cutting is established, it can be transplanted into a larger container or outdoors into a garden bed. Take stem cuttings in the spring or early summer from healthy parent plants. Use a sterile, sharp blade to make a clean cut at a 45-degree angle just below a leaf node. Remove any leaves from the lower half of the stem https://plantiary.com/plant/melampodium-leucanthum_1074.html#:~:text=To%20propagate%20this%20plant%2C%20you,outdoors%20into%20a%20garden%20bed.

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