Chocolate Flower
Chocolate Flower - Berlandiera lyrata - Perennial
Creamy yellow flowers have a maroon center with maroon striping on the back of the petals. Very showy, drought tolerant and blooms for many months. Even the seed heads are beautiful. And guess what? It's called chocolate flower because it smells like chocolate! No kidding. The fragrance is best in the morning or late afternoon.
It can take the dry heat too! It prefers well drained, lean soil and once established, is almost carefree. Plant along walkways so you can smell the luscious fragrance.
You can also plant it in half shade but it will bloom more in the sun.
Sow on the surface or very lightly covered in spring, summer or fall.
Note: Perennial wildflowers can benefit from at least some stratification. It certainly won't hurt. Direct sowing is best but you can also start them indoors 6 weeks before the last frost date. Set plants out once the weather has stabilized.
Native to the southwest.