Chocolate Daisy (Berlandiera lyrata)

   
 

Fig. 1. Overview of Chocolate Flower, photograph by Wynn Anderson. Fig 2. Flowers, spent flowers, and foliage, photograph by Gertrud Konings.

• Common English Names: Chocolate Daisy, Chocolate Flower, Greeneyes, Lyre-leaf Greeneyes, Brooch Flower
• Common Spanish Names: Coronilla, Hierba de la Víbora
• Scientific Name: Berlandiera lyrata (ber-land-dee-AIR-ah lie-RAY-tah)
• Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
• Geographic Range: Kansas and Colorado south to Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, and northern Mexico to San Luis Potosí.
• Plant Form: Herbaceous perennial, 12" x 12".
• Remarks: Erect stems, drooping with age, with lyre-shaped, pale green leaves supporting successive waves, spring to fall, of interesting composite flowers with yellow rays and a maroon streaked with orange center disk array, supported by a prominent green bract-like cup which persists after blooming. New flowers have a strong chocolate fragrance. Low water, full sun, good drainage, hardy to 10° F but dies back to a leafy basal rosette in winter. Attracts butterflies.

Last Update: 4 Sep 2002