This month’s Plant of the Month blog spotlights another standout selection from the newly revised Cool Plants for Hot Gardens by Greg Starr — a must-have guide for any desert gardener! With 150 water-wise picks perfect for the Southwest, it’s no surprise we’re big fans here at Water – Use It Wisely. One of our favorite features? Greg’s playful deep dives into the etymology (the origin of each plant’s scientific name) and his fascinating field notes (he somehow kept track of) from observing these plants in their natural habitats. Who knew botany could be this entertaining?
Blackfoot Daisy, Melampodium leucanthum
AT-A-GLANCE
Attracts bees, butterflies.
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Etymology
American botanists John Torrey and Asa Gray used the Greek leuc-, meaning white, and the Greek anth-, meaning flower, to describe this white flowered species.
Field Notes
I was seeking out the elusive Agave x arizonica in the New River Mountains with my son Brian and fellow botanist, Peter Breslin when I got sidetracked by flowering plants of Melampodium leucanthum trailing down the rocky slope just above our path. These are frequently seen along Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff and near Interstate 25 between Las Cruces and Albuquerque. Look for plants growing on dry rocky slopes and mesas from 2,000-5,000 feet elevation.
Description
Plants are low growing spreading perennials that produce an incredible flower display livening up any southwestern xeriscape. Herbaceous stems sprout from a woody base quickly reaching 8-12 inches tall by 15-24 inches across. Narrow dark green leaves are about 2 inches long by ¼-inch-wide and provide a perfect backdrop for the 1-inch-wide daisy-like flower clusters. While the flowering season stretches from spring through fall, peak bloom is late spring to early summer and then as the weather cools in fall.
Culture
Since the species has a wide-ranging distribution from southeastern Arizona to central Colorado, the seed source might affect cold hardiness, and the range could be from the 10° to -10° F, meaning the low end of USDA zones could be from 8a to 5b. Plant these in full sun and provide supplemental water during the warm growing season when rains are sparse, and they will reward you with more blooms for a longer time. Plants are fast growing, reaching full size in just one season and will benefit from a hard haircut once a year, even as young ones.
Identification
White daisy-like flower clusters and horseshoe-shaped seeds easily identify Melampodium leucanthum.
Landscape Application
Use plants near boulders and large accent plants to add a dash of color during peak bloom seasons of spring and fall. Tuck this little gem into small spaces like narrow planters between a walkway and building, in parking lot medians, in terraced landscapes, or in raised planting beds. Mass plant several for a great display of the lightly fragrant butterfly-attracting flowers. Mix several with cacti and other drought tolerant succulents including: Agave parryi, Dasylirion acrotrichum, Echinocactus grusonii, Hesperaloe funifera, and Yucca rigida. Plant with spring or summer flowering perennials such as: Berlandiera lyrata, Calylophus hartwegii, Glandularia gooddingii, and Penstemon species.
Precautions
New plantings may or may not need protection from hungry rabbits. This is a short-lived perennial and will probably need periodic replacing.
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Did you know that up to 70 percent of water use is outdoors? That’s why we love desert plants and feature them each month. It’s still a great time to plant non-tropical plants in your landscape, and you can learn more about Blackfoot Daisy and other plants on our Arizona Low-Water-Use Plants page. Visit our page on Choosing and Planting Low Water-Use Plants for tips on plant selection and how to plant properly. Also, be sure to read through all of our featured Plant of the Month blogs!
Water – Use It Wisely is proud to feature guest bloggers who write about topics related to water and water conservation. Greg Starr is a horticulturist and the owner/manager of Starr Nursery located in Tucson, AZ. It is a mail order nursery where you can shop online. Greg has traveled extensively in Mexico and the southwestern United States to study native plants for their potential landscape use in desert regions of the world. In 2009, Greg entered the world of literature as an author with the publication Cool Plants for Hot Gardens. This book is now revised in its second edition publishing in December of 2021. His latest book, Cool Cacti and Succulents for Hot Gardens published in October 2024. Both books are available online.
Photos by Donna DiFrancesco.