The two most common species ofMelapodiumareM.
divaricatum(known as butter daisy, with golden petals and darker yellow-orange centers) andM.
leucanthum(known as black-foot daisy, with white petals and yellow centers).
They are easy to grow and can survive a variety of conditions and locations where many other flowers struggle.
Melampodium is usually grown from a nursery container plant or from seeds sown directly into the garden.
Melampodium Care
Considered an easygoing plant, melampodium will grow just fine in regular garden soil.
Melampodium also won’t require a significant amount of pruning or deadheading.
Light
The melampodium plant grows best in full sunlight (at least six hours daily).
This encourages optimal flower growth and discourages flopping that can occur when plants grow leggy in shady conditions.
But it will grow well in any well-drained soil, provided it is not overwatered.
Temperature and Humidity
These are truly warm-weather plants.
Once they’re established, melampodiums aredrought tolerantand able to withstand the hottest temperatures with ease.
This is most likely to be of benefit in poor, rocky soils.
In rich garden soil, these plants often do fine with no feeding whatsoever.
leucanthum(black-foot daisy).
you might clip off spent flowers if you want to limit the plant’s habit of self-seeding.
It is also easy to transplant volunteer seedlings that spring up in the garden from melampodium plants that self-seed.
How to Grow Melampodium From Seed
The seeds for melampodium are found clustered in the flower centers.
Crush the seed heads to separate the plentiful seeds.
Learn to recognize the volunteer seedlings so you don’t mistake them for weeds.
Just be sure to plant them a light, well-drained potting mix, and be wary of overwatering.
Any pot material will be fine but see to it the container has good drainage.
Repotting is not necessary, as these are annuals that will be discarded at the end of the season.
Give the plants plenty of space to improve air circulation to prevent this fungal disease.
How to Get Melampodium to Bloom
Both species ofMelampodiumwill typically bloom from late spring until frost.
If they fail to bloom as expected, it’s almost always a matter of needing more direct sunlight.
These plants will not bloom in deep shade, but otherwise, flowers are almost guaranteed.
In these cases, staking the plants may be necessary.
Melampodium is an excellent plant for mixed border gardens in dry, sunny areas of the landscape.
Smaller varieties are great for container gardens.
Yes, theaster (Asteraceae)familyincludes many perennial species of daisy.
If you want a look similar to butter daisy, try a cultivar ofmarguerite daisy(Argyranthemum frutescens).
For a perennial white daisy similar to black-foot daisy, tryshasta daisy(Leucanthemumsuperbum).
Some of the best North American native plants with daisy-like flowers are found among the coneflowers (Echinaceaspp.)
and brown-eyed (or black-eyed) Susans (Rudbeckiaspp.)
These species are generally perennials, and you’re able to find cultivars that closely resemble theMelampoiumspecies.
Melampodium or Butter Daisy.
Melanmpodium or Butter Daisy.Clemson University Cooperative Extension.
