# blackfoot daisy (*Melampodium leucanthum*) The blackfoot daisy is a cheerful flower with bright yellow petals and a dark center. It loves to grow in sunny places and can make any garden look happy and bright! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![blackfoot daisy](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melampodium-leucanthum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sue in az, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melampodium-leucanthum.jpg) ## Appearance The blackfoot daisy has numerous small, pure white daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centers, atop a mound of narrow, silvery-green leaves. Its dense, low-growing form creates a cheerful white carpet. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Melampodium ## Interesting facts - Blackfoot daisies are so tough, they can grow right out of cracks in sidewalks or driveways! - Even after its flowers fade, the plant’s tiny seeds are a tasty snack for small birds and insects. - Its scientific name, Melampodium, comes from Greek, meaning 'black foot'—likely for its dark seed bases! - Rubbing the leaves releases a distinct, slightly camphor-like aroma, helping it deter unwanted nibblers. ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster:** Blackfoot daisy can store water efficiently and reduce leaf moisture loss, helping it survive long dry periods. - **Continuous Bloom:** Blackfoot daisy produces new flowers almost non-stop from spring through frost, attracting pollinators for months. - **Rocky Resistor:** Blackfoot daisy has roots that can anchor and thrive in rocky, poor soils where other plants struggle. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-30 cm - **Spread:** 30-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring through fall, sometimes year-round in warm climates - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding in pollen transfer. - **Eaten by:** [Desert cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus audubonii*) — Might occasionally browse leaves, though not preferred. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always enjoy flowers from a distance and don't pick them without permission. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify blackfoot daisy? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is blackfoot daisy? 15-30 cm ### How wide does blackfoot daisy spread? 30-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on blackfoot daisy? 2-3 cm ### When does blackfoot daisy bloom? Spring through fall, sometimes year-round in warm climates ### Is blackfoot daisy edible? No ### Is blackfoot daisy toxic? None ### What is blackfoot daisy's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Lake Brownwood State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-brownwood-state-park) — Texas, US · State Park - [Pace Bend Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pace-bend-park) — Texas, US · Park - [Friedrich Wilderness Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/friedrich-wilderness-park) — Texas, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see blackfoot daisy](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blackfoot-daisy) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Blackfoot Daisy: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blackfoot-daisy)