Flower profile

Tahoka daisy

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia

Tahoka daisy (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–September across the U.S.

Native to New Mexico

Tahoka daisy 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 May–September.

15states where USDA records it

575NM sightings*

3,339U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: New Mexico

Quick look

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names tansyleaf tansyaster and Tahoka daisy.
From Wikipedia's article Machaeranthera tanacetifolia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to New Mexico. ^NatureServe
In New Mexico, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–September. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 575 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #101 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In New Mexico, most flowering sightings come in May–September.

Flowering records by month in New Mexico (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (127 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: NV (S2). (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 page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 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 tahoka daisy in 15 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Catron, Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Union, Valencia.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Tahoka daisy a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium
Soil pH range: 6.5 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 110
Annual precipitation range: 16 to 24 inches
Minimum root depth: 8 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Rapid
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MATA2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Aster tanacetifolius, Machaeranthera coronopifolia, Machaeranthera parthenium.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 199 counties across 14 states; the most are in Texas (47), Kansas (27), New Mexico (27).

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

Native

🌼 Blooms in NM: June–August

Blackfoot daisy

Melampodium leucanthum

Native

🌼 Blooms in NM: April–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MATA2.
iNaturalist, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (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, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.