Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,443 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Blackfoot Daisy: observations by month (U.S.)
About Blackfoot Daisy
Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot, blackfoot daisy) is an herbaceous perennial plant in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) found on limestone containing rocky slopes in the Sonoran Desert.:41 It is an attractive ornamental with showy flowers and long bloom period, from March to November.:41From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Blackfoot Daisy by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 994 | April | Mar–May |
| Arizona | 233 | April | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 161 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Colorado | 48 | May | May–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Blackfoot Daisy?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Blackfoot Daisy most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico.