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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

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

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
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

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

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Desert, Grassland, Shrubland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

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. Can be grown in container gardens. Native habitat: prairie, meadows, pastures, open sites, roadcuts, arid desert and scrublands.

Description

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

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason