Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

It is a little strange you are having trouble obtaining seed. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Fall Plant Sale October 14 to 16 had Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy) on sale (in 4 in. pots). The Native Plant Society of Texas always has a space at our sales and they usually have the plant, again in pots, for sale. This USDA Plant Profile map shows that the blackfoot daisy grows natively over most of West Texas, including Potter County. We checked two of our usual sources for seeds, Native American Seed in Junction, TX and Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg; neither of which had seeds listed.

Perhaps you are looking too far afield for seeds. Since they are obviously growing in your area, perhaps you can find someone with a stand of the plant and can obtain permission to gather seed. Here is a list of Native Plant Society chapters in Texas, including one in Amarillo. There is contact information, and they could be able to help you locate a source. Follow this plant link Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy) to our Native Plant Database webpage to learn growing requirements.

Dave's Garden Forum comments on Blackfoot Daisy, including this comment on gathering seeds:

"Unlike most others in the Daisy family the inner "disk" flowers are not fertile. Collect seed from the base of the outer ray flowers in the fall."

In response to your second question, asking for a list of plants that will do well in your area, we already have lists prepared of plants native to specific areas of Texas. The list for the High Plains has 146 plants on it; read the description of the soils and conditions in that area. On the sidebar at the right side of the page, select on "herb" (herbaceous blooming plants), click on Narrow Your Search and you will have a list of 82 flowering plants that will grow in your area.