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Pityopsis graminifolia - Common Names: SIlky Golden-Aster, Silkgrass, Silver-Leafed Aster
Book Info: Variable size to 2 1/2 feet, Silvery grassy foliage, bloom time variable, sandy soil -- (books do not agree on some characteristics)
Personal Info: One plant added (accidently) to my yard in summer of 2005, Blooming heavily in fall (November), attracted a fair number of small pollinators, mostly bees. Attractive even when not in bloom -- will likely plant more.
Update: I added two more plants in 2006, but will likely never be without it now. During a very dry 2007 summer season, it did very well when other wildflowers were struggling and has spread itself around the front yard by seed and I think also underground. I can easily see where the name silkGRASS came from since it looks a lot like grass where it is coming up in numbers. I think it might make a wonderful groundcover and I'm happy to have it on my little "prairie", having seen it blooming in the midst of the grasses in fall at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve. A bonus was that a few of the flowers bloomed nearly throughout the winter months.
Cassius Blue Butterfly on Golden-Aster Flower
Cassius Blue Butterfly on Golden-Aster Flower