Aureolaria virginica
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aureolaria gerardia
- Phonetic Spelling
- or-ee-ah-LAIR-ee-uh vir-JIN-ih-kuh
- Description
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Downy Oak Leach is a native herbaceous perennial and hemiparasitic on white oaks but does possess chlorophyll and performs photosynthesis. It is commonly found in the mountains in dry to mesic forests, along streambanks, and in disturbed sites in all areas of NC. Deer eagerly browse this plant.
The yellow flowers open June- Aug. in terminal clusters of yellow funnel-shaped blooms atop downy stems. They prefer partial sun in rocky, clay or sandy loams. Plant the seeds or plants near a tree in the white oak family.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aureolaria
- Species:
- virginica
- Family:
- Orobanchaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. U.S.A. to Texas
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV Canada: ON
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees and butterflies
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A hairy dry ovoid capsule that splits open when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Description:
- 5 yellow petals fused into a corolla tube. Blooms appear in bract axils in terminal racemes in the spring and then again in the fall. They open in the morning and fade by noon.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lower stem leaves are opposite, petiolate, simple ovate to lanceolate, 2.5-6 inches long and .5 to 1.5 inches wide. The lower leaves sometimes have lobes or teeth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Rigid, brittle, square, and pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
