Chrysogonum virginianum is a low-maintenance native groundcover with pretty yellow flowers.
This low-maintenance native perennial plant forms a spreading mat in sun or shade but does not spread aggressively.
Here’s what you’re gonna wanna know to growChrysogonum virginianumin your own garden.
Credit:Mark Kane
It’s an easy-to-grow, mat-forming groundcover that is adaptable to most light conditions.
It prefers a well-draining,slightly acid soilwithhigh organic matter content.
Once established, it’s drought tolerant.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Its also useful for edging pathways or adding to borders and rock gardens.
Considered semi-evergreen, this plant retains most of its leaves except in the coldest parts of its range.
Water them well, and mulch them to retain moisture while the plants become established.
Credit: Rob Cardillo
After the plants spread and fill in, they can be divided every other year in late spring.
Help your plants get established by keeping the area moist until new roots form anddeadheading spent flowers.
Light
Chrysogonum virginianumperforms best in dappled or light shade.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
However, it can grow in full sun if moisture is abundant.
It will also grow in deep shade but may not bloom as prolifically.
Consistent moisture is necessary to grow it in full sun, but do not overwaterit doesnt like soggy soil.
Credit: Ginny Weiler
Neither cold nor heat seem to faze it.
Fertilizer
Golden star is not a heavy feeder.
Addingcompostto the soil at planting time usually is sufficient for its needs.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
Add more compost when plants are divided.
Its original clump will increase in size, and it may spread further by seed.
Some types also produce stolons that form new plants.
Credit: Robert Cardillo
If your plants expand beyond the space where you want them, simply remove the extra growth.
It may occasionallydevelop powdery mildew, especially if the plants become overcrowded.
Remove leaves that turn brown and discard them; then divide the plants the following spring.
Dig up large clumps and divide them into sections.
If the center appears overcrowded, discard it and replant the vigorous outer sections.
You may find seedlings near the base of the mother plant that can be dug and replanted.
The bright yellow flowers grow to 1.5 inches in diameter.
In cool summer climates, it blooms from spring to fall.
In hot summer climates, it may stop blooming entirely and then start again in the fall.
The flowering stems rise above the 34 inch foliage mat by about 10 inches.
This eastern U.S. native is covered with 1-inch-wide, yellow daisy-jot down blooms over an extended period.
In cool weather, it blooms throughout the summer, except for the South.
It seems to thrive on neglect.
Zones 5-9
‘Eco-Lacquered Spider’
Chrysogonum virginianumvar.australeEco-Lacquered Spider isn’t a clumping cultivar.
The 6- to 12-inch-tall plant is covered with small yellow blooms in spring.
It mingles pleasantly with many garden favorites.
Gardeners love it for its predictable show of flowers in late spring every year.
The colorful trumpet-shaped blossoms are yellow inside and red outside.
These blossoms stand out from across the yard and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
It is relatively deer- and rabbit-resistant.
Zones 5-9
Coral Bells
Coral bells(Heucheraspp.)
come in a rainbow of colors, with some varieties grown specifically for their masses of flowers.
This low-maintenance perennial is hardy inZones 3-9and easily adaptable to ground and container planting.
It bears blue, white, or purple flowers in spring over tiny clumps of sword-shaped foliage.
Zones 3-9
Foamflower
Foamflower(Tiarellaspp.)
is another popular shade garden plant.
In the spring, theplants are loaded with spires of foamy white flowers that give the perennials their name.
The blossoms typically last anywhere from four to six weeks.
Hardiness varies depending on species.
It may stop blooming during hot weather but will likely bloom again once the temperatures cool.
Removing spent flowers will encourage reblooming.
Mulching a new planting of golden star will help retain moisture as the plants become established.
