Florida Forest Plants

Goldenaster (Pityopsis graminifolia)

Goldenaster, also called silk-grass, is commonly found in open places with sandy soils including sandhills, upland woods, flatwoods, and old fields. Goldenaster is found in most of the southeast, between Texas and Florida in the south, to Oklahoma, Ohio, and Delaware in the north.

Goldenaster is an important food for gopher tortoises. It is grown as an ornamental because of its attractive yellow flowers that attract butterflies.

The leaves look like silvery grass blades. The numerous flowers, appearing on a stem in late summer, are ½" to 1" across. Both the petals and the flower centers are bright yellow. The flowers appear on a stem in late summer.		  

 Identifying Characteristics
Size/Form:
 Goldenaster is a perennial herb that grows to 3' tall and resembles a clump of grass. Old plants may be wider than they are tall.
Leaves:
 The leaves are parallel veined, silvery green, grass-like blades. They are 8" to 14" long, ½" to 1" wide, and covered with silky hairs.
Fruit:
 The fruit is a linear seed, about 1/8" long and is reddish-brown to black. The fruit has whitish-tan bristles on top that are about ¼" long.
Stem:
  In late summer when the plant flowers, the flower stem is stiff and upright. There may be one to several stems that are covered with silky hairs.
Habitat:
 Goldenaster grows in dense colonies on open, dry places, including young tree plantations, open forests, and forest margins. It can also be found in other conditions but only as scattered plants.


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Leaves
Flower


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