Chrysogonum virginianum 'Allen Bush'

Common: green and gold

Chrysogonum 'Allen Bush' - 50 per flat

Height: 8"
Spread: 12"
Spacing: 12"
Hardiness Zone(s): 5-9

A native groundcover, this plant is known for both its foliage and flowers with toothed, light green, triangular leaves and dark yellow, slightly notched, star shaped flowers that bloom well above the foliage and have contrasting brown stamens. The flowers bloom abundantly in the spring and fall, but tend to die down in the heat of the summer except in the cooler zones.

Characteristics & Attributes

Exposure

Full Shade
Part Sun

Soil Moisture Needs

Moist
Average

Green Infrastructure

Woodland

Plug Type

Horticultural Plug

Attributes

Native to North America
Groundcover

Season of Interest (Flowering)

Late Spring / Early Summer
Early Spring

Propagation Type

Vegetative

Care & Maintenance

Tolerant of almost all sun conditions as long as the soil is kept moist and well drained. Golden star blooms best in cooler situations, and so is perfect for a shade garden in hotter zones (Zone 7 and above) and is tolerant of more sun in the cooler zones. To propogate, the plant is easily divided by its clumps.

Interesting Notes

Chyrsogonum virginianum runs through native woodland areas in the eastern United States. Preferring light filtered shade to dense shade, it grows in a wide variety of soil types. The subspecies, var. australe, is different from the straight species by its more prostrate form, shorter flower stems, and the tendency to spread by aboveground stolon, much like a strawberry. Plant is susceptible to mildew in situations with poor drainage and too much mulch limiting air flow around the leaves.

The carefree nature of goldstar makes it a wonderful addition to a woodland garden. Over the years, it’ll ramble along the edges of garden paths and borders, easily divided and spread, suppressing weeds and providing cheer in spring. Resistant to deer and other mammals, Chrysogonum provides an early season nectar source to pollinators.