Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Butter daisy, Melampodium, Gold medallion, Gold medallion flower, Star daisy, Golden button, Blackfoot
Butter Daisies are an ideal choice for flower beds since they bloom profusely in spring and summer with small, yellow, button-like flowers that can invite butterflies, bees, and insects. They are also easy-to-grow and propagate.
Plant characteristics
Butter daisies are short plants that grow to a height of 30-60 cm with a heavily-branched stem that gives the plant a bushy, compact structure. Stem is dark colored and woody towards the base.
In fact, the name Melampodium comes from the words ‘melam’ which means black and ‘pous’ which means foot, indicating the dark brown stems. Leaves are simple, lance-shaped, green, and somewhat hairy. These dark green leaves grow to a length of 5-8 cm, providing a dark, contrasting background to the bright yellow flowers.
Flowers are the highlight – with bright yellow petals, and dark yellow or brown center. The yellow petals are called the ray florets, and the central area consists of disc florets, which is a typical characteristic of flowers in the Asteraceae family.
Flowers are produced in abundance during blooming season with small, but bright yellow flowers covering the plant, offering a stunning display of color in your garden. Butter daisies also produce small fruits that are quite inconspicuous.
They are capable of self-seeding, producing small plants around them that can grow quickly covering large areas.
Gardening tips
Butter daisy plants love hot, humid weather and need bright sunlight to produce flowers. Soil has to be well-drained, as stagnating water can cause root rot. The plant needs regular watering especially during the blooming period.
A well-balanced fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can help the plants flower well. Prune the spent flowers and long stems to keep the plant bushy and beautiful.
Butter daisies have traditionally been used in the treatment of wounds, malaria, and stomach ailments. They are mostly grown as ornamentals, or for attracting butterflies and pollinating insects in agricultural areas.
They make excellent flower bed plants, or can even be grown in hanging baskets provided there is good sunlight. They do not make good indoor plants since they need bright, direct sunlight.
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings, both very effective.
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala
