- The Chocolate Flower Has a Chocolate Scent - Melbunian, wikimedia commons
Many people are aware that the source of chocolate is the cacao tree (Theobrama cacao). However, there is also an indigenous flower of the United States, commonly known as the chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata), that has a chocolate connection too. Although the chocolate flower is not grown as an edible plant, it does have an intense, chocolate fragrance. The chocolate flower is found growing wild in the south western United States but can be planted in gardens too.
Names for the Chocolate Flower
The Chocolate flower is also known as chocolate daisy, lyreleaf greeneyes and green-eyed lyre leaf; it belongs to the Asteraceae (Aster) plant family, the same plant family to which chamomile and marigold belong. The Latin genus name, Berlandiera, is a reference to Jean-Louis Berlandier (1805-1851), a French naturalist and physician, who worked as a plant specialist on a Mexican scientific expedition in northern Mexico and the American state of Texas between 1826 and 1827.
Description of the Chocolate Flower
The chocolate flower is a perennial herb that grows between one and two feet in height. It has yellow flower heads with a maroon disk in the center that resemble daisies (like some of the other Asteraceae plant family members). The flower stamens are chocolate scented. The flowers are at their best in the morning, as they droop as the temperature rises. The chocolate flower usually blooms between April and November.
Where to Find the Chocolate Flower
The chocolate flower is a hardy perennial that is found in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas. It grows wild in sand, rocky limestone and clay; however the chocolate flower likes well-drained and dry conditions, and is drought tolerant. It is also found growing wild in the meadows of many of the south western States.
Benefits of the Chocolate Flower
The chocolate flower is an aromatic plant that attracts butterflies and other pollinators. However, like some other aromatic plants, the chocolate flower usually repels deer because of its fragrance. The chocolate flower is often grown as an ornamental plant and, if it is planted in groups, the chocolate aroma of the flowers will be intensified. It grows best in full sun.
The Scented Chocolate Flower
Do not confuse the chocolate flower with edible chocolate plants such as the cacao tree, the chocolate lily, chocolate nasturtiums and violas. The chocolate flower can add an interesting fragrance to a garden, and can be planted alongside plants such as lavender. For those who love the aroma of chocolate, a group of chocolate flowers is probably the best way to incorporate a chocolate scent into the garden!
References:
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center web site, Native Plant Database: Berlandiera lyrata, accessed August 30, 2010
- Backyard Gardener web site, Berlandiera lyrata Chocolate Daisy, accessed August 30, 2010
Sharon Falsetto - Sharon Falsetto is a business owner, certified clinical aromatherapist & professional writer with a life-long interest in plants.
