Hairy chaffhead
Carphephorus paniculatus
Asteraceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower and butterfly gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Medium herbaceous wildflower.
Height:
Basal rosette 1-3 inches in height; up to 3 feet when in flower.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to Palm Beach and Collier counties, but rare and scattered in the southernmost parts of its range.
Habitats:
Wet pinelands.
Soils:
Moist to wet, well-drained sandy soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
Purplish.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Fall-winter.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous achene.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Nectar plant for butterflies. Attracts native bees and other beneficial insect pollinators.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed.
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Shirley Denton