Chocolate (Berlandiera lyrata) is a frost-hardy perennial flower that blooms from June through November, producing showy blooms that attract butterflies and pollinators to any garden. Native to warm regions but hardy in zones 4-10, this heirloom thrives in full sun to partial shade and grows 10-20 inches tall with a spread of 12-24 inches. Its drought tolerance and ability to handle wet soil make it an unusually adaptable plant, while its deer and rabbit resistance mean you can count on consistent blooms without fencing or worry.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-10
20in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Chocolate flowers deliver months of continuous blooms across six months of the growing season, from early summer through the first hard frost. The plant's exceptional tolerance for both drought and wet soil conditions means it shrugs off whatever weather comes its way, while its low 6-inch spacing requirement allows you to create generous sweeps of color without a large footprint. Butterflies and other pollinators flock to these showy flowers, transforming your garden into a living pollinator magnet.
Chocolate works beautifully as a ground cover, bringing continuous color to dry spots or rain gardens where other perennials struggle. Its moderate height and spreading habit make it suited to naturalizing in beds and borders, while its deer resistance and drought tolerance mean you can plant it in challenging areas without compromise. The heirloom status suggests it has earned its place in gardens over generations, valued for its reliability and long season of blooms.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow on the soil surface without covering, as seeds need light to germinate. Maintain soil temperatures between 65-80°F for best germination.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Space plants 6 inches apart to allow room for their mature spread of 12-24 inches.
Direct sow outside 1 to 2 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow seeds on the surface and keep soil consistently moist until germination.
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