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Marcus, Joseph A. (Austin, TX)

Lindheimera texana Gray & Engelm.

Texas yellowstar, Texas star, Lindheimer daisy, Texas yellow star

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

USDA Symbol: LITE3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Texas star plants are 6-24 inches tall and widely branched. Stems and branches are hairy. The lower leaves are alternate and coarsely toothed, but the upper ones are opposite and smooth on the edges, 2-2 1/2 inches long. There are 1 to several flower heads in a cluster at the end of each stem. Each flower head has 5 bright yellow ray flowers, each with 2 prominent veins and indented at the tip. Flower heads are 1-1 1/4 inches across. The plant sometimes begins blooming when it is 2 in. tall and continues blooming while growing taller.

Texas Yellowstar is easily cultivated and does well in garden settings.

This genus is named after Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer (1801-1879) who is often called the Father of Texas Botany because of his work as the first permanent-resident plant collector in Texas. In 1834 Lindheimer immigrated to the United States as a political refugee. He spent from 1843-1852 collecting specimens in Texas. In 1844 he settled in New Braunfels, Texas, and was granted land on the banks of the Comal River, where he continued his plant collecting and attempted to establish a botanical garden. He shared his findings with many others who shared his interest in botany, including Ferdinand von Roemer and Adolph Scheele. Lindheimer is credited with the discovery of several hundred plant species. In addition his name is used to designate forty-eight species and subspecies of plants. He is buried in New Braunfels. His house, on Comal Street in New Braunfels, is now a museum.

 

From the Image Gallery

View herbarium specimen from Harry T. Cliffe Bexar Regional Herbarium.

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Tap
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate
Size Notes: 6-24

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AR , LA , OK , TX
Native Distribution: N.c., s.e. & occasionally Plains Country of TX; also n. Mex. & adjacent LA
Native Habitat: Prairies; roadsides, Abundant in prairies of north central and southern part of east Texas and Edwards Plateau. Well-drained sand, loam, clay, limestone.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Sandy loam or limestone soils. Clay Loam, Medium Loam, Sandy Loam, Sandy
Conditions Comments: Texas star is easily cultivated and does well in garden settings. Texas star can vary somewhat in size, depending on depth, moisture and richness of soil. It makes a good bedding and border plant; you can depend on it to reseed.
Texas comments: Texas star is easily cultivated and does well in garden settings. It can vary somewhat in size, depending on depth, moisture and richness of soil. It makes a good bedding and border plant; you can depend on it to reseed.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: None

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Sow seed in fall.
Seed Collection: Collect seed in May. Gardeners like to seed out and plant for color in spring.
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
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From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
* Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
* Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lindheimera texana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lindheimera texana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lindheimera texana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-07-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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