Permascaping, by Homegrown Foods
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White blackfoot daisy flowers over a compact gray-green mound

Native & adapted

Blackfoot daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

Also known as Rock daisy · Plains blackfoot

A compact Southwest native mound with white daisy flowers, excellent drainage tolerance, and uncommon durability in hot, lean sites.

Arizona nativePollinatorVery low waterYear-round interest
Landscape layersGround cover
Mature sizeAbout 1 ft. tall × 2 ft. wide
Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b · High desert · USDA 6a–8b
Special categoriesPOLLINATOR ATTRACTING
Hardiness guidanceHardy to about 0°F according to AMWUA

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardinessHardy here

Hardy to about 0°F. Never needs frost protection in Phoenix.

Heat toleranceTakes full sun and heat

Desert native that takes full sun, west side included. Good drainage and very little water keep it happy.

Sources: amwua.org

Right plant, right place

Will Blackfoot daisy grow at your Arizona property?

Use in gravelly soil, raised edges, rock gardens, and the upper shoulder of rain basins—not in the basin bottom. It stays tidier when allowed its rounded natural form.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b, High desert · USDA 6a–8b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun to partial sun. Flowering is strongest with abundant light.

Water

Irrigation

Very low after establishment. It is more likely to fail from wet roots than from ordinary drought.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Blackfoot daisy thrive

  1. 1

    Choose a sharply drained spot and resist enriching the planting hole with heavy compost.

  2. 2

    Water deeply to establish, then let soil dry thoroughly between irrigations.

  3. 3

    Shear lightly after a major bloom flush if the mound opens up.

  4. 4

    Leave some flowers and seed for native insects and birds.

Read the horticultural reference ↗

Keep exploring

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