Heterotheca subaxillaris
(Camphorweed)
Common Names, Latin Name, and Family
Its common names are camphorweed, false goldenaster, golden aster, dune camphorweed, and telegraph weed.
Its Latin name is Heterotheca subaxillaris. It used to be known as Chrysopsis scabra.
It is found in the Asteraceae, or aster, family.
Form
Camphorweed is an annual wildflower. In areas without frosts it acts as a short-lived perennial. It grows to a height of 3 feet.
Leaves
Its leaves are alternate with broad bases and wavy margins. The leaves clasp around the stem. They are lanceolate to elliptic in shape and rough to the touch. When crushed the leaves emit a camphor type fragrance.
Flowers
The bright yellow flowers appear all year in Florida.
The flowers have yellow petals and yellow centers. This wildflower produces a huge amount of blooms all year long.
Fruit / Seeds
Once the flowers are pollinated the seeds begin to form. Once the seeds are ripe they open into fluffy white globes. The flower’s achenes help them to be carried away by the wind.
Habitat
Camphorweed occurs naturally in pinelands, sandhills, dunes, and disturbed sites.
Native Range
It occurs naturally throughout the southeastern United States. In Florida it is found naturally occurring in almost every county.
Landscape Use
It can be grown in any any sandy area of your green space. Its mature size is 3 feet in height by about 3 feet wide. It will grow in just about any type of soil from sand to loam, and once established only needs rainfall for moisture. It is a great wildflower for a naturalized setting because it will reseed each year and produce new plants. It can tolerate some light shade, but flowers best in full sun.
Wildlife Use
The bright yellow flowers attract a wide array of pollinators from butterflies, bees, beetles, and flower flies. The seeds may be eaten by birds and small mammals.
Propagation
It is an annual so it is best grown from seeds. They require 2 to 3 months of cold stratification to germinate. When planting use a sprinkling of soil to cover the seeds because they need light to germinate. Sometimes transplanting very small specimens is successful.
I sell pre-cold stratified seeds here at my Ebay store – Heterotheca subaxillaris Seeds ✤ Camphorweed 100 Pre-Cold Stratified Seeds.