| Botanical Name |
Heterotheca chrysopsis, syn. Heterotheca villosa |
| Common Name |
Golden aster, Hairy golden aster |
| Family |
Asteraceae-Aster |
| Description |
This perennial is a native of North America. The leafy stems are erect or spreading and extremely hairy as are the leaves. Villosa in Latin means hairy. The dull green leaves are lance-shaped and ½” - 1¼” long. They often have a strong, pleasant, sage-like aroma. |
| Mature Size |
8”- 20” tall and often several feet wide. |
| Bloom |
July – September flowers appear with bright yellow rays and darker yellow disks. They grow in branched clusters. Each flower is about 1” wide. Seed heads are made up of dingy white bristles. |
| Interesting Facts |
This species is sometimes so common in the West that the flowers are often a very showy display. The species are variable and often difficult to identify precisely. Golden aster alone has 5 named varieties. This leads to another common name—LYF (Little Yellow Flower). |
| Traditional and Medicinal Uses |
This plant has not been known to be eaten or otherwise used by humans or other animals. |
