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Form/habitat

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Skeleton-leaf goldeneye grows on rocky ground from the Rio Grande Valley to the Edwards Plateau, west to the Trans-Pecos. With its skeletal dark green leaves, golden daisies and rounded growth habit, it is an extremely ornamental shrub or sub-shrub. It adapts to most well-drained sites in full sun, and will benefit from being cut back to maintain a dense shrubby appearance. In its native habitat, skeleton-leaf goldeneye is evergreen, but farther north it will be only root hardy. This plant blooms intermittently through the summer and heavily in the fall. Its leaves contain aromatic oils which discourage heavy browsing by deer. It is a larval plant for some butterflies.

Plant Habit or Use: small shrub

Exposure: sun

Flower Color: golden yellow

Blooming Period: summer
fall

Fruit Characteristics: achene

Height: 1 1/2 to 3 feet

Width: 2 to 3 feet

Plant Character: herbaceous perennial
evergreen

Heat Tolerance: very high

Water Requirements:

Soil Requirements: neutral
alkaline

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9

Additional Comments: