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Melampodium leucanthum is often confused with:
Coreopsis lanceolata flowers and leaves
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Erigeron Erigeron compactus
Ptelea trifoliata Small tree in the landscape.
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis

Melampodium leucanthum

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
mel-am-POH-dee-um lew-KAN-thum
Description

A low rounded, erect, long-blooming perennial wildflower herb in the Asteraceae family, Blackfoot Daisy is a sturdy, mounding plant, that will flourish in rock gardens and grow up to 4' tall. It blooms in the summer and blooms last until frost. Uniform flower heads are yellow. Along with rock gardens, this plant can also be utilized in mass planting, borders, or in the middle of flower beds. This plant requires full sun and needs to be planted deep in soil. It is heat and drought tolerant, and tolerant of nutritionally poor soils. In late winter, older plants can be cut back halfway to keep them compact. At first glance, Blackfoot Daisy appears to be the twin of White Zinnia (Zinnia acerosa), but flower heads of the latter species have 4-7 broad white rays and a narrow base of several overlapping scales.  It is a low water use plant. Needs dry conditions and moist, well-drained soil. This is a taprooted plant, and therefore not subject to divisions.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Erect herb with yellow flowers in heads
  • Heads with single row ray flowers
  • Peduncle with 2 rows of erect white hairs

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#nectar plant#moist soil#mounding#well-drained soil#deer resistant#rock garden#fantz#poor soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#wildlife friendly#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#nectar plant#moist soil#mounding#well-drained soil#deer resistant#rock garden#fantz#poor soils tolerant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#wildlife friendly#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Melampodium
    Species:
    leucanthum
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    U.S.A. to Mexico
    Distribution:
    Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Dry calcalreous substrates from CO to OK, s. to AZ, c. TX & Mex.
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds love the seeds
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    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, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are yellow. Ray flowers are in a single series, and disc flowers are in the center. Inflorescence is a head on terminal, elongated peduncles, 1-1 and 1/2" in diameter. There are few involucral bracts, they are 4-6 in a single series, and are broad and obtuse. Peduncle has 2 rows of erect, whitish hairs.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are linear-oblong, entire to pinnately lobed, have rough hairs, and are 1-2" long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer