Alternate name: Lyre-leaf Greeneyes, Chocolate Flower

Family: Asteraceae, Aster view all from this family

Description Native herbaceous perennial.
Habit: mounded, coarse, clumping.
Height: 4-48 in (10-120 cm).
Leaf: soft, fuzzy, gray-green; may be lobed or scalloped.
Flower: daisy-like, 2 in (5 cm) wide, on naked slanted stalk; oval rays, yellow to gold, single notch at tip; around a green disk marked with red or brown (rarely yellow).
Fruit: dry cup-shaped seed, to 1/4 in (6 mm) wide and 3/16 in (4 mm) deep.

Flower Year-round, or April to November, depending on location.

Flower April - September

Habitat Dry, well-drained sites: sandy or rocky soils, roadsides, grasslands with mesquite, oak, and juniper.

Range Native to the Southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico: New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas; now cultivated in through the Southwest, including New Mexico; 2300-7200 ft (700-2200 m).

Discussion Also known as: chocolate daisy, chocolate flower, lyreleaf greeneyes, green-eyed lyre leaf. Flowers close at night. The flowers are leaves are chocolate-scented.

Comments This easy-to-grow perennial is susceptible to root rot in heavy, wet soils. Deadhead for continuous bloom.

Exposure Preference Sun to partial sun.

Native Distribution Extreme s.w. Kansas to w. Texas, w. to s.e. Colorado & Arizona

Site Preference Well-drained plains & mesas

Soil Preference Dry, rocky, limestone soils.

Wildlife Value Butterflies are attracted to this plant.