Bloomipedia
Lyre-leaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata)
Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Lyre-leaf greeneyes

Berlandiera lyrata

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–October.

6states
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.

  • 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–October. 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 109 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist

Lyre-leaf greeneyes gift ideas

Handmade lyre-leaf greeneyes gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

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

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.

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.

More New Mexico flowers

Sources