green and gold Interesting Notes

One of our favorite native groundcovers for the woodland garden, Chyrsogonum virginianum var. australe has yellow daisy-like flowers cover 6" evergreen foliage in spring. Compact rosettes of leaves slowly spread stoloniferously, creating a low-growing carpet of deep, shiny green foliage with golden, star-shaped flowers. Blooms continue on sporadically throughout the summer and are wonderful along an border of a shaded garden site, woodland edges, and in rock gardens.

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.

Chrysogonum virginianum var. australe Growing and Maintenance Tips

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. 

Good Substitutions

Chrysogonum virginianum 'Superstar'

Chrysogonum virginianum 'Allen Bush'