Chrysopsis mariana

Maryland Goldenaster is a Southeastern short-lived herbaceous perennial about 2.5 feet tall which occurs on roadsides, in dry, open, rocky woods and sandhills throughout NC. It thrives in full sun and well drained soils and is considered drought tolerant. Each plant is short-lived, but persists in the garden by seeding out and/or producing new plants at the ends of short rhizomes. Early on there is a basal rosette of spatula-shaped leaves, followed in late summer through fall by stems with small, alternate, sessile leaves and silky hairs which tend to disappear as the season progresses. Flowers are borne in terminal clusters, with both disk and ray flowers bright golden yellow. Honored in 2018 as the NC Botanical Garden’s Wildflower of the Year! May be included in fire-managed plantings. Asteraceae family.