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Cressler, Alan

Pityopsis graminifolia

Pityopsis graminifolia (Michx.) Nutt.

Narrowleaf Silkgrass, Golden Aster

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: pigr4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Silvery, grass-like leaves, to 1 ft. long, are topped by 2 in. clusters of bright-yellow, daisy-like flowers on 2-1/2 ft. stems.

This is a tough, vigorous, evergreen ground cover that does poorly only if soils are too rich and damp.

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Shape: Linear
Inflorescence: Head
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 1 inch wide
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: Will bloom better the more sun it gets.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , KY , LA , MD , MS , NC , OH , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Distribution: Delaware to Ohio, south to Georgia, Texas, and Mexico.
Native Habitat: Dry, open sandy sites.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Silvery green, grass-like leaves and tendency to colonize make it useful as a foreground plant and a ground cover. Its bright, daisy-like flowers are most abundant in full sun.
Use Wildlife: Butterfly attractant.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division , Seeds
Maintenance: For neatness, cut back just before new leaves emerge, in February.

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	UPL				UPL	FACU		UPL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1149 Collected 2007-12-06 in Montgomery County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Research Literature

Reslit 162 - The Relationship between Soil Fertility and Fire-Stimulated Floral Induction in Two Populations of Grass-Leaved Golden Aster, Pityopsis graminifolia (1995) J. S. Brewer
Reslit 163 - Long-term population changes of a fire-adapted plant subjected to different fire seasons (2006) J. S. Brewer
Reslit 165 - Effects of Fire Season and Herbivory on Reproductive Success in a Clonal Forb, Pityopsis graminifolia (1994) J. S. Brewer and W. J. Platt
Reslit 524 - The evolution of fire-dependent flowering in goldenasters (Pityopsis spp.) (2005) A. K. Gowe and J. S. Brewer
Reslit 46 - Changes in understory vegetation and soil characteristics following silvicultural activities in a southeastern mixed pine forest (2007) J. K. Archer, D. L. Miller and G. W. Tanner
Reslit 1383 - Ornamental Landscape Performance of Native and Nonnative Grasses under Low-input Conditions (2009) M. Thetford, J. G. Norcini, B. Ballard and J. H. A...
Reslit 1861 - Geographic variation in flowering responses to fire and season of clipping in a fire-adapted plant (2008) J. S. Brewer
Reslit 2190 - Effects of Fire Season and Soil Fertility on Clonal Growth in a Pyrophilic Forb, Pityopsis graminifolia (Asteraceae) (1994) J. S. Brewer and W. J. Platt
Reslit 2212 - Effects of fire-generated gaps on growth and reproduction of golden aster (Pityopsis graminifolia) (1996) J. S. Brewer, W. J. Platt, J. S. Glitzenstein and ...
Reslit 2221 - Effects of Fire on Clonal Growth and Dynamics of Pityopsis graminifolia (Asteraceae) (1987) D. C. Hartnett

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pityopsis graminifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pityopsis graminifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pityopsis graminifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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