Lorenzo Blogs

Chrysogonum virginianum Goldstar

Native to rich woodlands in eastern North America ( Pennsylvania; south to Louisiana to far northern Florida ); the Goldstar is an attractive, low maintenance, fast growing shade perennial and can reach a maximum size of 2 x 4 feet though usually less than half that in height. The northern form is taller and more upright in habit while the southern form is better for groundcover being that it is more stoloniferous and produces alot of runners.
The opposite, smooth-edged or toothed, heart-shaped, leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are hairy bright green. The foliage is evergreen in the south and deciduous in the north. Generally north of zone 6, it becomes fully deciduous.
The yellow, star shaped flowers are borne singly from April to May then sporadically until October and are up to 1.5 inches across.
Hardy from zone 4 to 8 preferring moist, fertile, acidic, humus-rich, well drained soil in partial shade to shade.
On moist soils, it can tolerate full sun if it is not reflected and in shade it can be very drought and heat tolerant once established.
Pests and disease problems are rare.
Propagation is from seed ( sown in cold frame during late summer ) or division in early autumn or early spring.

* photo taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD


Allen Bush
Rapid growing, reaching up to 10 inches in height. It is more compact than the species and blooms more profusely.

* photo taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Howard Co., MD


Australe
Very fast growing, reaching up to 15 + inches in height.

Eco Lacquered Spider
The best form for groundcover; it has long purple stolons up to 3 feet in length.
it is much faster growing than the species and single plants can spread up to 8 feet or more and spread at a rate up to 3 feet per year. Foliage is unusually glossy and is sometimes purple tinged.

Graystone Gold
Leaves are rounded in shape.

Pierre
A clump former, up to 10 inches x 3.5 feet in size with a long bloom season and softer green, semi-evergreen foliage up to 3.5 inches in length.

* photo taken on May 14 2012 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on May 20 2013 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


Springbrook
Very compact in habit and only reaching up to 5 inches in height with bright yellow blooms from late spring through summer.