prairie wildflower
Maryland golden-aster
Chrysopsis mariana
Also known as Maryland Goldenaster
1 of 2Native to the Southeast and the Northeast
Southern New York to Ohio and eastern Kentucky, south to Florida and Louisiana
- Light Full sun Sun tolerance
- Moisture Wet Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Aug–Nov Flowering time
- Height up to 1 ft to 0.3 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A prairie wildflower for full sun and wet soil. Its yellow flowers peak in September. At up to 1 ft, it tucks into meadows and sunny borders.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Maryland golden-aster's yellow flowers bloom August to November, peaking in September. This early-fall display draws butterflies and bees.
Maryland golden-aster blooms yellowFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Common Buckeye
also Common Checkered-Skipper and Allies, American Copper, Swarthy Skipper +1 more
Panoquina ocola - Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee
also American Bumble Bee, Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee, Andrena fulvipennis +2 more
Bolton's Fairy Bee, Perdita boltoniae chrysopsina - Flower flies Eastern Calligrapher also Transverse-banded Flower Fly, Oblique Streaktail
- Also visited by
- Beetles: Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Narrow-lined Cucumber Beetle
- Moths: Celery Looper Moth
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- American coppernectar
- Common buckeyenectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The Southeast and the NortheastUnited States (18): AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Southern New York to Ohio and eastern Kentucky, south to Florida and LouisianaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- WetThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- Wet to moist soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 1 ft (to 0.3 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Aug–NovWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Sep–DecThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.