Carolina green and gold is a herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to North Carolina and the southeast United States. It is found in Mesic to dry, deciduous and pine-mixed forests and on rocky slopes. In North Carolina it is mainly found in the southern mountains and western Piedmont. Carolina green and gold forms matts by stolons that can spread up to 2 feet. It prefers shade to partial shade in well-drained soils. Propagate by seed, root cuttings or division. In early spring, the flowers appear with 5 bright yellow petals surrounding the yellow disc flowers. The scalloped hairy leaves are bright green on long stems. Use Carolina green and gold in the shady, woodland or native garden as a ground cover. It will spread to cover an area and suppress weeds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for aphids, spider mites and slugs and snails. Powdery mildew and blights and root rot can occur in poorly drained soils.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Dentate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The oval hairy leaves are bright green on long stems up to 3 inches long with toothed margins
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1.5-inch yellow star-shaped flowers rise above the leaves by 8-10 inches. The 5 petals are slightly notched with a center tuft of yellow disc flowers.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The flattened oval achenes are blackish brown. Seeds are dispersed by ants.oval
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Creeping hairy green stems root at the nodes
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South East U.S.A
Distribution
AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV
Wildlife value
Pollenators are attracted to the flowers
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Native Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden