Flower profile

Lyre-leaf greeneyes

Berlandiera lyrata

Lyre-leaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native to New Mexico

Lyre-leaf greeneyes is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In New Mexico it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

6states where USDA records it

912NM sightings*

2,384U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: New Mexico

Quick look

Berlandiera lyrata, with the common names chocolate flower, chocolate daisy, or lyreleaf greeneyes, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. The common name lyreleaf greeneyes is a reference to the shape of the leaf, which is curved like a lyre and the green disc which is left behind when the ray florets drop off which is thought to look like an eye.
From Wikipedia's article Berlandiera lyrata, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to New Mexico. ^NatureServe
In New Mexico, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 4 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 912 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #59 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In New Mexico, most flowering sightings come in April–July.

Flowering records by month in New Mexico (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (64 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
New Mexico: Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. ^{19.21.2.9 NMAC}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KS (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records lyre-leaf greeneyes in 6 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, Mora, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Union, Valencia.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Lyre-leaf greeneyes a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 9.5 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 6.5 to 9.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 150
Annual precipitation range: 12 to 32 inches
Minimum root depth: 10 inches
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for BELY. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Berlandiera incisa.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 87 counties across 6 states; the most are in Texas (51), New Mexico (26), Arizona (4).

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More New Mexico flowers

Rubber rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa

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🌼 Blooms in NM: September–October

Upright prairie coneflower

Ratibida columnifera

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🌼 Blooms in NM: June–August

Blackfoot daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

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🌼 Blooms in NM: April–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile BELY.
iNaturalist, Berlandiera lyrata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Berlandiera lyrata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
New Mexico: New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC).
New Mexico: New Mexico Noxious Weed List (NM Department of Agriculture, updated June 2020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Berlandiera lyrata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.