Melampodium or Butter Daisy is a small, reliable, low maintenance summer annual in the aster family. It is a hardy plant, maturing to 2 feet high and a foot wide. The plant is native to Mexico and Brazil. The prolific daisy-like yellow flowers bloom from May until frost and contrast well with the bright green foliage. The leaves are opposite, slightly fuzzy, and have smooth, wavy, or slightly toothed margins. Genus name comes from the Greek melam meaning black and pous meaning foot for its black stalks. The species name means spreading or growing in a straggling manner. It is one of the easiest annuals to grow in evenly moist, well-drained soils and full sun. Watering should be consistent, but occasional, and the soil should be slightly dry. Once established, Melampodium is drought tolerant and does well in humid summers. To grow from seed, sow directly in the garden after the last frost. To ensure early blooms, you can start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and set the plants out after the last frost date. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet on Melampodium. Tall stems on the plant may tend to flop in the heat of summer. Deadheading is not required. It may self-seed in optimum growing conditions. As the flowers fade, each stem branches to produce additional flowers. This plant will do well as a border or mass planting in the garden or in a 1 to 3 gallon container. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease or insect problems. Powdery mildew can be an issue. Be sure to space properly and set in a location with good airflow.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Sinuate
Leaf feel
Velvety
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Green leaves are slightly fuzzy and have smooth, wavy, or slightly toothed margins.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Head; Solitary
Flower shape
Lipped; Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Solitary, 1 inch, daisy-like flowers with yellow rays and darker yellow centers. As the flowers fade, the stems branch to produce additional bloom. Plant blossoms through Spring, Summer, and Fall until first frost.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Fruit is a cypsela, although often, incorrectly, referred to as an achene.
Stem color
Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
Erect, purple stems. Tall stems can flop over in hot summers.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Mexico to Brazil
Distribution
Central and South America, Florida, India.
Wildlife value
Seeds provide a food source for small songbirds, such as goldfinches.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Walkways
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#drought tolerant #deer resistant #showy flowers #easy to grow #fall interest #spring interest #dry soils tolerant #summer flowers #full sun tolerant #annual #hardy #long bloom time