Blackfoot Daisy

Name: Blackfoot Daisy
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Melampodium leucanthum

A tough little native that produces a constant show of crisp white daisies with almost no water at all.

Hardy in USDA zones 5-11; evergreen and nearly everblooming in the low desert, cold-hardy well below freezing, and equally at home at mid-desert elevations.

AMWUA Notes

One of the most water-thrifty flowering perennials available, blooming for months on rainfall plus occasional deep soaks.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Extremely drought tolerant — water every 2-3 weeks in summer and rarely in winter; sharp drainage is critical, as wet feet quickly kill it.

✂️Pruning

Lightly shear the mound by a third in late winter to renew it and prevent a woody, open center; deadheading is optional since it self-cleans well.

🌱Fertilizing

Never fertilize; rich or amended soil causes rot and floppy growth in this lean-soil specialist.

🛡️Pests

No notable pests; the main killer is overwatering or poorly drained clay soil.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Evergreen mounding habit that blooms nearly year-round, easing off only in the deepest cold; reseeds modestly into gravel.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Lean, rocky, gravelly, or sandy alkaline soils with sharp drainage; thrives in decomposed granite; rots in rich or clay soil.

💧Drainage

Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.

🌰Propagation

Seed; direct-sow and it reseeds modestly into gravel. Has a taproot and resents transplanting or division.

📐Spacing

1.5–2 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant; otherwise minimal and non-spreading.

Placement Tips

•Perfect front-of-border and rock-garden plant — keep it at the edge where its neat 1-foot mound shows.
•Mass in threes and fives for a tidy ribbon of white that reads all seasons.
•Plant in gravel or decomposed granite with excellent drainage; avoid low spots that collect water.
•Loves full sun and reflected heat along walls, walks, and hot borders.