Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Brundage, Stephanie

Viguiera dentata

Viguiera dentata (Cav.) Spreng.

Plateau Goldeneye, Sunflower Goldeneye, Toothleaf Goldeneye, Chimalacate, Golden-eye

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: vide3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This 3-6 ft., open, bushy, much-branched plant tends to grow in colonies. Its leaves are narrow and its numerous yellow, 1 1/2 in., daisy-like flowers appear at the tips of long, slender, leafless stalks.

This extremely drought-tolerant plant grows 3 feet tall in sun, up to 6 feet tall in partial shade. The name Chimalacate is derived from Aztec/Nahuatl and means shield cane.

From the Image Gallery

153 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
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: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: Central TX w. to AZ, s. through Mex. to Central America; Cuba
Native Habitat: Woodlands' edge, Opening, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Dry, calcareous soils. Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type, Limestone-based, Sandy.
Conditions Comments: Extremely drought-tolerant. Grows 3 ft. in sun; up to 6 ft. in partial shade. Great source of fall color. Let spent flower stalks stand through most of the winter to provide good seed forage for finches and other birds. Reseeds readily under favorable conditions.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Blooms ornamental, Showy, Border, Perennial garden
Use Wildlife: Nectar-Bees, Nectar-Butterflies, Seeds-Granivorous birds, Cover.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Bordered patch butterfly, Cassius Blue butterfly
Deer Resistant: Minimal

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Cassius Blue
(Leptotes cassius)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Bordered Patch
(Chlosyne lacinia)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagate by seed sown in fall or early spring, tip cuttings, or root division.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Finding Viguiera dentata seeds or plants.
November 09, 2009
I'm trying to locate seeds or plants of Viguiera Dentata, but have been unsuccessful. With the poliferation of these beautiful flowers this fall, I don't understand why I can't locate them. Do you ...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-216 Collected 2004-10-05 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

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

Bibliography

Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 765 - McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-07-13
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back