Melampodium leucanthum
Blackfoot Daisy
Low growing perennial not reaching more than a foot, spreading about 2’ wide. White daisy flowers with yellow centers can bloom almost anytime there is warm weather. This plant is sometimes confused with Desert Zinnia (Zinnia acerosa) which has similar flowers.
Grow in full to part sun, with moderate water, hardy to-20° F. Cut back occasionally to encourage new bushier growth.
As with most plants in the daisy family, because of the composite flower, this plant has a lot of nectar in the flowers and attracts numerous pollinators. Granivorous bird eat the seeds. As a ground cover, its a good cover plant for small creatures like lizards.
Melampodium comes from Melampus, a soothsayer of renown in Greek mythology; leucanthum comes from the Greek leukos, white and anthemon, flower. The common name for the genus refers to the base of the stems being darker-colored, and is not a reference to the Blackfoot people.
Found on dry slopes, open sites, grasslands, along roadcuts, and in shrublands, often on limestone, from 2,000-5,000 ft. in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas; south into central Mexico.