Chocolate Flower
Chocolate flower is a native perenial flower of the southwestern US that blooms all summer. It gets its name from producing an extremely aromatic milk chocolate fragrance in the morning.
Rosettes of soft grey-green leaves bear yellow daisy-like flowers with dark eyes. The flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon.
Chocolate flower is a hardy perennial in the Colorado Springs area, though rather short-lived. If conditions are right, it will germinate from seed freely.
Chocolate Flower
Chocolate flower is a native perenial flower of the southwestern US that blooms all summer. It gets its name from producing an extremely aromatic milk chocolate fragrance in the morning.
Rosettes of soft grey-green leaves bear yellow daisy-like flowers with dark eyes. The flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon.
Chocolate flower is a hardy perennial in the Colorado Springs area, though rather short-lived. If conditions are right, it will germinate from seed freely.
Plant details
Botanic Name
Berlandiera lyrata
Pronunciation
ber-lan-dee-AIR-uh ly-RAY-tuh
Mature Height
1 to 2 ft.
Mature Spread
12 to 18 in.
Water usage
One Droplet: Water twice per month or less, once established.
Two Droplets: Water about once per week, once established.
Three Droplets: Water about twice per week, once established.
Flower Color
yellow with dark centers
Bloom time
early summer to early fall
Colorado Native
Yes
Natural Habitat
southwestern United States
Light Requirements
sun, part shade
Cold Hardiness
USDA zones 4-10
Elevation Limit
hardy to 7,000 ft.
Performance
Chocolate flower has been a good performer at the Water Wise Demonstration Garden. It grows its main flush of blooms in early summer, goes through a rest period, and then begins blooming again later in the summer.
It grows best in hot, dry conditions. Individual plants have not survived that long, but seedlings have germinated and taken their place. The flowers look best in the morning. They close in late afternoon.
Maintenance
Cut back old growth to ground level in fall or spring.
See in a landscape
Narrow strips like this can be a tough place for grass to grow because of the heat from the surrounding concrete and the difficulty of watering a narrow area. That's why these plants are a great choice for an area like this. Not only do they like the extra heat from the wall and sidewalk, but they enjoy being kept on the dry side. The yellow-blooming chocolate flower will thank you for not over-watering by blooming all season long! Many of the plants found in this garden are native to Colorado.