prairie wildflower
Lyre-leaf greeneyes
Berlandiera lyrata
Also known as Chocolate Daisy, Chocolate Flower, Lyreleaf Greeneyes, Green-eyed Lyre Leaf
Native to Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas
Extreme southwestern Kansas to western Texas, west to southeastern Colorado and Arizona, south to Jalisco in central Mexico
- Light Full sun to part shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–Oct Flowering time
- Height up to 4 ft to 1.2 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun to part shade and evenly moist soil. Its yellow flowers peak in April. At up to 4 ft, it suits meadows and sunny borders.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Lyre-leaf greeneyes's yellow flowers bloom March to October, peaking in April. This spring display draws butterflies and bees.
Lyre-leaf greeneyes blooms yellowFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Fiery Skipper
also Variegated Fritillary, Checkered White, Dainty Sulphur +6 more
Bordered Patch, Reakirt's Blue, Western Pygmy-Blue, Common Sootywing, Vesta Crescent, Little Yellow - Bees Tripartite Sweat Bee also Sonoran Bumble Bee
- Flower flies Yellow-shouldered Drone Fly also Northern Plushback
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Checkered whitenectar
- Dainty sulphurnectar
- Fiery skippernectar
- Little yellownectar
- Reakirt's bluenectar
- Variegated fritillarynectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and TexasUnited States (6): AZ, CO, KS, NM, OK, TX. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Extreme southwestern Kansas to western Texas, west to southeastern Colorado and Arizona, south to Jalisco in central MexicoThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to part shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil pH
- 6.5–9.5The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- LowHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- MediumHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- HighHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 4 ft (to 1.2 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 10+ in (25+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–OctWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Apr–OctThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Not requiredWhether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- SeedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~0.3 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- NoneWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.