Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Chrysopsis butleri, C. foliosa, C. hirsutissima, C. imbricata, C. villosa var. foliosa, Heterotheca foliosa
Other common names
hairy golden-aster
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Heterotheca villosa var. ballardii
Height
To almost 2 feet
Riparian
No
Sprawling to upright with multiple stems growing from a woody base; forms round bushy clumps; leaves and stems sparsely to densely covered with short, fine gray or white hairs; 1 to many bright yellow daisies grow in branched clusters at the stem tops.
Leaf face moderately to densely hairy; involucres (bracts) of the flower head narrowly bell-shaped and often surpass the flower head; ray flowers not showy; flower head stems often abundantly hairy; distal leaf blades on the stems narrow to oblong.
Habitat
Dry sandy soil, mesas, plains, roadsides, waste areas, crevices in granite and sandstone, loose rocky slopes, dry deep ravines, dry short grass, semi-barren grasslands, grassy areas with scattered sagebrush, Ponderosa pine, aspen and mountain mahogany.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
8500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers grow from the upper leaf axils (between the leaf and stem) and are 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches across. The flower head consists of 10 to 35 yellow petals (ray flowers) which enclose a small center of 20 to 50 tiny brownish-yellow florets (disc flowers).
Flower color
Yellow, brownish-yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Green to reddish-brown stems. Hairs on leaves varies but there's always a covering of short, soft gray or white hairs. Lower leaves have stalks, upper leaves are often stalkless, leaves 1 to 3 inches long. Stems and leaves have a sharp, spicy scent.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green to grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruit of the disc flower is about 1/16 inch, 1-seeded, hard and dry; it does not split open to release the seed when ripe. The fruit has a narrow cone shape with tufts of dull white to light brown hairs attached at the top for wind dispersion.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Dull white to light brown
1 tiny hard seed is produced in the fruit. The seed is attached to the thin inner wall of the fruit at a single point by a short stalk allowing it to be easily released.