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Berlandiera lyrata

Previously known as:

  • Berlandiera Incisa
  • Berlandiera lyrata var. Macrophylla
Description

Named after French-Swiss physician Jean-Louis Berlandier, who gathered plants in Texas and northern Mexico in the 1800's. Chocolate daisy is a mounding perennial wildflower native to the southwestern USA and Mexico in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Its common name is derived from the scent of its flowers that smell like chocolate.  Also referred to as 'green-eyes' comes from the green disk shaped flower center that remain after the petals fall off.  

Its native habitat includes dry, rocky limestone with well-drained soil, which also includes other disturbed locations such as roadsides, vacant lots, plains, mesas, grasslands and other disturbed soil locations. 

When conditions become too wet, the plant can topple over.  However, branchlets will form along the prone stem.  From these branchlets, additional flowers will bloom.  

In the proper conditions, i.e. warm weather, it will flower year round.  It can be mowed in the early part of the summer after the first bloom.  It will again grow and flower.  Deadheading will also lead to continuous flowering.  Its seed can be collected year round.  Division in not a recommended method for propagation as the long taproot can be damaged.  

Its flowers can be used as a seasoning.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Heavy soil with wet conditions can lead to root rot.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#accent plant#mass planting#year-round interest#herbaceous#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#night-flowering#groundcover#naturalizes#poolside planting#cutting garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#naturalized area#border front#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#groundcovers that can be mowed#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#perennial#patio#wildflower#meadow
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#accent plant#mass planting#year-round interest#herbaceous#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#night-flowering#groundcover#naturalizes#poolside planting#cutting garden#pollinator plant#native wildflower#naturalized area#border front#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#groundcovers that can be mowed#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#perennial#patio#wildflower#meadow
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Berlandiera
    Species:
    lyrata
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southwestern USA, Mexico
    Distribution:
    AZ, CO, KS, NM, OK, TX
    Wildlife Value:
    Bees, butterflies and birds are attracted to this plant.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a flattened pubescent cypsela (a dry, single seeded fruit).
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Yellow ray flowers with a reddish/brown center. The flowers will open in the morning, but begin to droop as the heat of the day sets in. As the petals are plucked, the scent of chocolate can be detected. The lower side of the petals have red veins or can be entirely red.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Obovate
    Spatulate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The lower leaves have short branches at the base of the plant and longer branches that end with a leafless stalks where its flowers heads bloom. The underside is a lighter green to white.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    The stems can be branched. They are striped with parallel lines.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat