Common Name:

Florida goldenaster

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Chrysopsis floridana

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Form:

flower

Size:

2 ft tall by 1-2 ft wide

Life Span:

short-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

foliage is evergreen, but flowering stems do die back in winter; blooms late-October and November, seeds in late-November to early-December

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Garden location where its silvery, young foliage is visible but not where its somewhat weedy look at time of flowering (November) will be an issue.

Considerations:

This species is listed as Endangered by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the State of Florida. Please plant responsibly.

Availability:

Propagation:

Easily established from seed. Plant in December in sandy area at time of seed maturity.  

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

9A, 9B

Wildlife:

Primarily wind dispersed, but small birds consume seed.

Butterflies and bees including green metallic, sweat, leafcutter, bumble and mining bees (Florida Wildflower Foundation).

Native Habitats:

Scrub. In openings and open ecotones. Disturbance is required for persistence of this species. This species can be seen at the Balm-Boyette, Alafia Scrub, and Golden Aster preserves in Hillsborough County.

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Foliage is showy, silvery gray green. Takes on a weed appearance at flowering time. This is an Endangered Florida endemic; do not harvest plants from the wild.