Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

frostweed, white crownbeard

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Verbesina virginica

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

4-5 (6) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Background plant in a wildflower garden. Also useful as a mass planting along a forest edge. This plant is best used in informal settings and does well if allowed to naturalize.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Division--best done when dormant in the winter. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Attracts native bees.





Nectar source for butterflies.

Native Habitats:

Moist forest edges.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Leaves dried and used as tobacco by some indigenous peoples.

General Comments:

Each stem has soft, fleshy green flanges running longitudinally down its length. When winter weather brings ice, the stems exude water that freezes into fascinating shapes, hence its common name frostweed.