These flowers have been blooming all summer at the lake in a neighbor's yard. The leaves are a little thick, not like a usual sunflower. They didn't plant them. When the area in front of their dock was dredged, the guys dumped some of the sludge into the flower bed. And the flowers popped up. They are also covered with caterpillars now. I took some seed to plant here, but want to know what I'm getting into in case they're invasive.
I was thinking that might be a Cowpen Daisy. This is my first year growing it, but it looks pretty similar to mine. I like them! They even survived over this summer, which makes them pretty tough! I also think those caterpillars could be a butterfly caterpillar, the Bordered Patch. Check these links and see what you think.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59964/
http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/TexasPuddyPrint/12563/
I think the caterpillar is a match! I'm not sure about the flower....only because the ones in Plant Files look upright and the ones across the street are sprawling. That could be due to a sprinkler system, tho. Are the leaves on your daisies soft and almost like a succulent leaf?
Went back to photos I had taken, and I'm pretty sure this morning you're right about these being Cowpen Daisies. Thanks, Linda!
Yes, Cowpen Daisy, I love them too and have may of them, they are annuals here in DFW.
They are doing pretty well here. Not as big as some of the ones down at the dollar store on the highway, but they're still really pretty! Glad I got the seeds last year! Now if I could just get some Bordered Patch down here to lay eggs. It's really not a good year for butterflies with the drought and everything!
This is my second year to grow Cowpen Daisy and I love them more all the time. Not only do they thrive in harsh conditions, every butterfly and bee is attracted to them. They're an annual in north Texas, but give a whole new meaning to the phrase "freely reseeds." :-)
Carla
