Bigelowia nuttallii
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Bigelowia virgata
- Chondrophora virgata
- Chrysocoma virgata
- Phonetic Spelling
- big-eh-LOW-ee-ah noo-TAL-lee-eye
- Description
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Nuttall's rayless goldenrod is an evergreen flowering sub-shrub native to the southeastern United States in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It can be found in prairies, sandstone glades, granite flatrocks, Altamaha Grit glades, and road banks in the mountains and coastal plains of GA south to FL and west to TX. The genus name commemorates Jacob Bigelow (1787–1879), an American physician and botanist. The specific epithet honors Thomas Nuttall (1786–1859), botanist and explorer, who collected plants in the western USA.
This rare plant grows 8 to 15 inches tall or taller and will form clumps. It requires sandy or gravelly soils for good drainage in full sun to partial shade. Propagation is by seed and easily germinates in 75-degree weather. It will also spread by rhizomes and can be divided, when necessary, but it is not aggressive
Most of the thread-like foliage occurs at the base of the plant, with widely spaced leaves on the stems. The yellow disc flowers occur in flat-topped clusters from September through fall, attracting late bees and butterflies.
Use this plant in a drought-tolerant or rock garden, paired with asters, for a late-season pollinator garden. It may be hard to find, but it's worth the effort.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Bigelowia
- Species:
- nuttallii
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, LA, TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Disc flowers with no rays occur in flat-topped clusters of heads, each containing 3 to 5 yellow disc flowers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Green leaves are 1 to 5 inches long, very narrow and dotted with tiny glands. Most of the leaves are basilar with stem leaves becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. It may have a bronzy color in winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Green round stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
