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Yellow Crownbeard - Verbesina occidentalis


Family: Asteraceae – Aster family Genus Common Name: Crownbeard Native Status: Native
Verbesina occidentalis - Yellow Crownbeard. Most of the Crownbeards have yellow blossoms, and bloom in mid to late summer. Verbesina occidentalis, like a couple of other Verbesina species - V. alternifolia and V. helianthoides - has a winged stem caused by the continuation of the petioles down along the stem. Yellow Crownbeard is a tall plant, from 3 feet to 10 feet tall.
Distribution of Verbesina occidentalis in the United States and Canada:
USDA Plants Distribution Map
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 09 Sep 2010). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-September-16Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/15 f/8 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
Yellow Crownbeard is a member of the aster family with yellow disk flowers and 2 to 5 yellow ray flowers. The sparse ray flowers were what grabbed my attention when I first noticed this wildflower blooming near a creek along a roadside near my home.
Verbesina occidentalis
Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-September-16Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D60
1/125 f/4 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv) Flash: Yes
Yellow Crownbeard inflorescence is terminal to the stems with numerous flowering heads per plant.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Verbesina occidentalis
Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-September-16Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/60 f/8 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv) Flash: Yes
Calyx view of Yellow Crownbeard inflorescence.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Verbesina occidentalis
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-September-16Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/125 f/4.0 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv) Flash: Yes
Verbesina occidentalis has opposing leaves which are 3 to 7 inches long, ovate, toothed, with winged petioles.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Verbesina occidentalis
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-September-16Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/15 f/9 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
The opposite leaves have winged petioles that extend down the stem. The wings remain on the stem during the winter. These wings give the similar species, Verbesina alternifolia its common name – wingstem. V. alternifolia has alternate leaves rather than opposing leaves – bet you guessed that from the species epithet.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Verbesina occidentalis

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2010
Photographs Copyrighted by the named photographer


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