Maryland Golden-Aster is native short lived perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. It is found in dry forests, woodlands, roadsides, and open fields in the eastern USA and west to Texas. The yellow daisy-like blooms appear in late summer to fall on 1 foot stems above a basal rosette of leaves. It grows best in sandy, medium moist, well-drained sandy soils but can be adaptable. It can spread a little fast if the soil is kept moist. In general, this plant grows at a medium to rapid growth rate. This plant is drought tolerant once established. They will reseed themselves in the garden or naturalized areas. It flowers in the late summer well into the fall providing long-season interest and provides delicate texture with its daisy-like appearance. It attracts butterflies, bees and pollinators which keeps nature right outside your back door. This plant is great for use in a border, rock garden or meadow. This plant was selected as the 2018 NC Wildflower of the Year , a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Occasionally suffers from mildew, otherwise no serious problems.
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | 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 | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblanceolate; Oblong; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The plant forms a rosette of basal, wholly leaves which are 2"-6" long and 1 3/8" to 1.5" wide with entire or dentate margins. The lower leaves are larger and stem leaves are smaller. The leaves are wooly when young and become smoother with age.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Head; Umbel
Flower shape
Radial; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Clusters of bright yellow, one-inch diameter flower heads with 13-21 rays appear late summer to fall. The petals and center of the flower are both yellow. Each flower has lanceolate, sticky flower bracts. Petals are narrow at each end and sticky bracts are below the petals. Blooms from June to October.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Red-brown achenes. Displays from July to November.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Upright silky wooly stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern U.S.A., such as NC and Maryland
Distribution
AL , DC , DE , FL , GA , KY , LA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV (Southeastern US, from NY to OH and down to TX)
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Chrysopis support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) fulvipennis, and Perdita (Hexaperdita) boltoniae. This plant attracts butterflies, bees, and pollinators. It is also moderately deer resistant.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Specialized Bees