Blackfoot Daisy

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Blackfoot daisy is a native perennial that grows to about 1-2 feet tall and wide and covers itself the whole season with honey-scented, white and yellow daisy flowers. As you can see from the photographs it creeps instead of gaining height. The foliage and flowers are typical of the aster family. Plant en masse in a well-drained border or use in a rock garden. One important feature about Blackfoot daisy is it can be short-lived but mine has survived three years.

Three year ago I planted Blackfoot daisy, blue fescue ornamental grass, Denver dream miniature rose, Dahlberg daisy and a peachy shade of moss rose in this bed. The fescue has died but the other plants have made it through the heat of the summer and winds of the winter in this full sun location. Since then I have added irises and purple basil.

I trimmed the Blackfoot daisy back by at least half during the winter. The older branches become woody. Much of the plant was covered with a mulch of leaves during the winter. We are in zone 7-8.



ADD DARK MAHOGANY FOLIAGE FOR IMPACT

Important to areas with car traffic, where visability (and not height) is an important factor, are these creeping and water-saving combinations of white with dark mahogany shades. I am trying Blackfoot daisy with lady-in-a-boat. We have a cul-de-sac planting so it is important to keep the selection low in height for visability, water-wise, and tolerant of 100 degree heat near reflective concrete. 

The various purple sweet potato vines would be a nice pairing but as I have observed the vines will most often over take their neighbor and need trimming periodically. 

I do like sweet potato vines. They add dramatic foliage in dark or bright colors and, and, and they thrive in the summer heat. One solution, a wrought iron trellis, allows the vines to grow crazy "up" instead of "out".

















Purple basil with Blackfoot daisy, and Dahlberg daisy thrive all summer in my favorite planting area, so I can't say enough about them.










The Dahlberg daisy thrives in the same sunny site as the Blackfoot daisy and purple basil.

White Zinnia or Dwarf Zinnia

The white zinnia (Zinnia acerosa) has a similar appearance. I would like to see the zinnia to compare the two. I cannot find enough information about the zinnia to determine whether it has a honey scent like the Blackfoot daisy. Reference is made of it in Texas Wildflowers[1] and it flowers from June through October.

References.                                                            

[1] Loughmiller, Campbell, Lynn Loughmiller, and Damon E. Waitt. Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide. Austin, Tex: University of Texas Press, 2008. Print.

Grassroots Horticulture

2020

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