Chrysopsis gossypina

Common Names

Cottony Goldenaster, Cottonleaf Goldenaster, Cruises’ Goldenaster

Summary

Chrysopsis gossypina, Cottony Goldenaster, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae native to the Southeastern United States, with a distribution in the Coastal Plain from Florida to Virginia and dry sand habitats such as longleaf pine sandhills, coastal dunes, and Florida scrub. Stems radiate or creep from a central point, outer portions erect, densely covered with white cottony hairs giving a woolly appearance; leaves are basal or alternate; plants reach up to about 3 feet tall and bear yellow flower heads on stalks at the tips, each head 1.5–2 inches wide with 10–22 ray florets surrounding a yellow disk; bloom time September through October, and the fruit is a cream-to-brown achene. Prefers full sun and dry sandy soils, tolerates drought and dry to very dry conditions, and shows high salt spray tolerance; hardy in USDA zones 7–9. Propagation is possible from seed; ornamental use includes presence in low-input landscapes and coastal dune plantings, with attraction for bees and butterflies. Three subspecies are recognized: ssp. cruiseana, ssp. gossypina, and ssp. hyssopifolia.

Lifecycle

Annual, Biennial, Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun.

Soil Type

Dry, sandy, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Silver-gray

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

37% increase in growth index when fertilized at planting

Seasons of Interest

Fall and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Terminal stem cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds