Butter Daisy Melampodium divaricatum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Melampodium paludosum
- Phonetic Spelling
- mel-am-POH-dee-um di-vair-ih-KAY-tum
- Description
-
Melampodium or Butter Daisy is a small, reliable, low maintenance summer annual in the aster family. It is a hardy plant, maturing to 2 feet high and a foot wide. The plant is native to Mexico and Brazil. The prolific daisy-like yellow flowers bloom from May until frost and contrast well with the bright green foliage. The leaves are opposite, slightly fuzzy, and have smooth, wavy, or slightly toothed margins. Genus name comes from the Greek melam meaning black and pous meaning foot for its black stalks. The species name means spreading or growing in a straggling manner.
It is one of the easiest annuals to grow in evenly moist, well-drained soils and full sun. Watering should be consistent, but occasional, and the soil should be slightly dry. Once established, Melampodium is drought tolerant and does well in humid summers. To grow from seed, sow directly in the garden after the last frost. To ensure early blooms, you can start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and set the plants out after the last frost date.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet on Melampodium.
Tall stems on the plant may tend to flop in the heat of summer. Deadheading is not required. It may self-seed in optimum growing conditions. As the flowers fade, each stem branches to produce additional flowers.
This plant will do well as a border or mass planting in the garden or in a 1 to 3 gallon container.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious disease or insect problems. Powdery mildew can be an issue. Be sure to space properly and set in a location with good airflow.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Derby'
Golden flowers on 12 inch stems. - 'Jackpot Gold'
Two inch, gold-yellow flowers, on 12 inch stems. - 'Lemon Delight'
Lemon yellow flowers on 12 to 24 inch stems. - 'Medallion'
Yellow flowers on 36 inch stems. Tallest cultivar. - 'Million Gold'
Yellow flowers on 10 inch stems. - 'Showstar'
Yellow flowers on 14 to 24 inch stems.
- 'Derby'
- 'Derby', 'Jackpot Gold', 'Lemon Delight', 'Medallion', 'Million Gold', 'Showstar'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Derby'
Golden flowers on 12 inch stems. - 'Jackpot Gold'
Two inch, gold-yellow flowers, on 12 inch stems. - 'Lemon Delight'
Lemon yellow flowers on 12 to 24 inch stems. - 'Medallion'
Yellow flowers on 36 inch stems. Tallest cultivar. - 'Million Gold'
Yellow flowers on 10 inch stems. - 'Showstar'
Yellow flowers on 14 to 24 inch stems.
- 'Derby'
- 'Derby', 'Jackpot Gold', 'Lemon Delight', 'Medallion', 'Million Gold', 'Showstar'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Melampodium
- Species:
- divaricatum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico to Brazil
- Distribution:
- Central and South America, Florida, India.
- Wildlife Value:
- Seeds provide a food source for small songbirds, such as goldfinches.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought, Humidity.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a cypsela, although often, incorrectly, referred to as an achene.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Radial
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Solitary, 1 inch, daisy-like flowers with yellow rays and darker yellow centers. As the flowers fade, the stems branch to produce additional bloom. Plant blossoms through Spring, Summer, and Fall until first frost.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Green leaves are slightly fuzzy and have smooth, wavy, or slightly toothed margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Erect, purple stems. Tall stems can flop over in hot summers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
