Species golden aster
Yellow flower with orange-yellow center and green stems

golden aster

Heterotheca camporum

Golden aster (Heterotheca camporum) is an attractive, bushy perennial native to the western US. Growing up to 3 feet tall, its full, bright yellow flowers are present through the summer and fall seasons. The leaves are narrow and toothed, and the stems are hairy. This drought-tolerant plant is easy to grow and a great choice for any garden as it attracts butterflies and other pollinators. It also makes a great cut flower, as the flowers last for up to two weeks when cut. Plus, it's highly deer resistant!

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 8

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,gray,gray

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

Golden Asters should be watered twice weekly, making sure to allow the soil to dry in between waterings. When watering, water the soil until it is evenly moist, but not soggy. The roots should never be left soaking in water, as this can cause root rot. Keep an eye on the coloring of the leaves, if they start to yellow, this is an indicator of under-watering. If the leaves start to droop, this is an indicator of over-watering. Aim to maintain the soil slightly moist, but not soaking wet.

sunlight

The golden aster thrives in full sun; however, it can also tolerate light shade. The best time of day for the golden aster to receive the most sunlight is from 10am to 3pm. During this stretch of hours, the sun is directly over it; however,n the brightest, warmest rays are from 12pm to 2pm. For optimal growth, the golden aster should receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. While too much sun may cause extensive wilting and sunburn, the golden aster should thrive when allowed to enjoy an adequate amount of sunshine.

pruning

Golden aster requires pruning once a year or as needed. Pruning should occur in the spring after the last frost as this is when the plant blooms and produces new growth. The pruning should be done with sharp pruners and create a shape that is pleasing to the eye. Start by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged branches, then shaping and trimming the plant to give it a nice, uniform look. Always prune to a set of leaf nodes to ensure that new branches will grow in the appropriate locations. Generally speaking, about 1-third of the oldest canes should be removed to promote new growth and flowering. Avoid pruning too much, as this can stimulate the growth of more dead branches.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Golden aster typically starts flowering in late summer or early fall, usually in August or September.

Starts Flowering

Golden aster typically starts flowering in late summer or early fall, usually in August or September.

Hardiness Map