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Asteraceae
Verbesina

not marked as a favorite taxon Verbesina occidentalis (Linnaeus) Walter. Common name: Southern Crownbeard. Habitat: Forests, woodlands, pastures, and roadsides, especially abundant in alluvial areas or upslope over mafic or calcareous rocks. Distribution: MD west to OH and MO, south to Panhandle FL and MS. In IN, native in Crawford County and introduced in Pike County (S. Namestnik, pers.comm. 2024).

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: Winter stems with seeds still present can be distinguished from V. alternifolia by pappi longer (3-4 mm) vs. 1.5-2 mm long (V. alternifolia), in addition to leaf arrangement determinable by leaf scars.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, Fl7, FNA21, G, GW2, Il, K4, Oh3, RAB, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, WH3, WV; = Phaethusa occidentalis (L.) Britton — S; Siegesbeckia occidentalis Linnaeus. Basionym: Siegesbeckia occidentalis L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Verbesina occidentalis - FNA21

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image #1 of Verbesina occidentalis© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Verbesina occidentalis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Verbesina occidentalis© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Verbesina occidentalis© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Verbesina occidentalis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Verbesina occidentalis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Verbesina occidentalis© Scott Ward; holding its own with Microstegium vimineum | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Verbesina occidentalis© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Verbesina occidentalis© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Verbesina occidentalis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Verbesina occidentalis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Verbesina occidentalis© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial found in forests, woodlands, pastures, and roadsides, especially abundant in alluvial areas or upslope over mafic or calcareous rocks.

Stems: Stems 4-winged, branched in inflorescence, smooth below and minutely hairy above.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, on winged petioles, broadly oval, 2 1/2-9 in. long, shallowly toothed and hairy beneath.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in a large, open, branching terminal cluster; heads to 2 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 1-5 bright yellow ray florets (to 3/4 in. long each) encircling a domed center disk of greenish-yellow, tubular florets.

Fruits: Fruit a spherical head of achenes (lacking wings).

Comments: Note the similarity to Verbesina alternifolia, which has alternate leaves and often more ray florets.

Height: 3-10 ft.

plant sale text: Southern crownbeard is a large perennial that develops winged stems that can reach well over 6 feet long and support large, oppositely arranged leaves. In late summer it forms bright yellow ray flowers around a disk, but these are often sparse and not uniformly distributed giving it a jaunty appearance. Southern crownbeard makes a great addition to any wildflower meadow and can be used effectively in the back of a perennial border. The genus Verbesina supports up to 16 lepidoptera species.

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial found in forests, woodlands, pastures, and roadsides, especially abundant in alluvial areas or upslope over mafic or calcareous rocks.

stems: Stems 4-winged, branched in inflorescence, smooth below and minutely hairy above.

leaves: Leaves opposite, on winged petioles, broadly oval, 2 1/2-9 in. long, shallowly toothed and hairy beneath.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in a large, open, branching terminal cluster; heads to 2 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 1-5 bright yellow ray florets (to 3/4 in. long each) encircling a domed center disk of greenish-yellow, tubular florets.

fruits: Fruit a spherical head of achenes (lacking wings).

comments: Note the similarity to Verbesina alternifolia, which has alternate leaves and often more ray florets.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southeastern United States



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