Green-and-gold is a hardy, low-growing, long-blooming herbaceous perennial found along woodland edges and clearings on the East coast from New York south to Florida and west to Louisiana. With attractive, semi-evergreen foliage, bright yellow 1.5-inch star-like flowers on fuzzy stalks for much of the growing season, and an unfussy attitude about soils (as long as they are well drained), Green-and-Gold is considered a work horse in the native garden. Wiith sufficient even moisture, it can take full sun but prefers protection, especially in the afternoon, and grows best in dappled or morning sun. Leaves are opposite, oval and softly pubescent with a crenate (round-toothed) margin. Flowering peaks in May, decreasing in the heat of summer and then flowering again late in the season. There are 3 forms of this plant (see “Habit”). This one, the natural variety C. virginianum virginianum is the most northerly of these three forms. Twelve to fourteen inches in height, it is considered a groundcover if planted closely, but this form is upright, not stoloniferous. It spreads by seeds, though offsets are easily divided for transplant. The USDA plant distribution map linked below is for virginianum.
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Chrysogonum virginianum
Key Info
Scientific Name: Chrysogonum virginianum L.
Common Names: Green-and-Gold, Golden Knee, Golden Star
Family Names: Asteraceae (Composite, or Daisy Family)
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Flower Color: Yellow
Special Characteristics: Attracts pollinators, Reported to be deer resistant., Tolerates shade, Groundcover, Tolerates dry conditions
Additional Info
Habit: One natural variety of Green and Gold (var. 'Australe') spreads by long stolons, another one (var. Virginiana) is a clumper, and one is in between (var. Brevistolon). see Clemson U. Cooperative Extension's excellent treatment of this. Central NC is in a region of overlap of the varieties Brevistolon and Virginiana. 'Australe' is from south central Georgia.
Height: 1'
Spread: 1'
Soil Conditions: Moist, well-drained soils that are acidic to neutral.
Leaves: Opposite, simple, hairy, crenate (rounded teeth) leaves on fuzzy hairy stems.
Flowers (or reproductive structures: Stems terminate in clusters of yellow daisy-like blooms. Individual flowers are 1-2" across with 13-21 ray florets surrounding a cluster of disc florets.
Fruit: Nutlets mature 2-3 weeks after the yellow ray flowers fade and drop.
Natural Distribution: woods
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
Pollination: Bees, butterflies, other insects
Wildlife Connections: Attracts song birds, reptiles, and mammals.
Propagation: By seed or by division.
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