Chrysogonum virginianum aka Golden Knee

Chrysogonum virginianum is a low perennial in the daisy family. Gardeners call it green-and-gold or golden star. It grows wild in woodlands of the eastern United States. Kew places its range from southern Pennsylvania to North Carolina. NC State extends that range south to South Carolina. It spreads through rhizomes and forms a leafy mat. The leaves can stay green through mild winters.

The leaf mat stands about 0.08–0.17 feet [0.025–0.05 metres] tall. Flower stems reach about 0.67–0.83 feet [0.20–0.25 metres]. RHS gives a broader height range, reaching 1.64 feet [0.5 metres]. NC State lists spreads of 1–2 feet [0.30–0.61 metres]. RHS allows a wider spread, up to 3.28 feet [1 metre]. Growth is moderate, though some plants spread faster. The green leaves grow in opposite pairs on long stalks. Each simple leaf has blunt teeth and a few hairs. Leaves range from oblong to heart-shaped.

Yellow flower heads rise above the mat on separate stems. These stems grow from the joints between leaves and stems. Each head has five rounded rays around yellow disk flowers. The rays have small notches at their tips. NC State reports blooms from March to June. Missouri Botanical Garden gives May to October. RHS describes flowering from early spring through late summer. Heat can reduce or halt bloom during summer. A smaller flush may follow in autumn. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers, and songbirds eat the seeds. NC State lists purple or lavender capsules from April to July.

This plant suits shade or part shade in woodland beds. It prefers moist, acid soil rich in organic matter. Good drainage matters, even where the soil stays moist. It tolerates full sun when the soil remains moist. RHS also lists sandy, loamy, and chalk soils. Its listed pH range includes acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. USDA zones 5–9 suit it, while RHS rates it H5. Plants reach their full size in two to five years.

Use it beneath shrubs, along woodland paths, or at border fronts. It also fits shaded rock gardens and native plant beds. Its spread is easy to control, though it may self-seed. It needs little care and no routine pruning. Removing old flower stems helps keep the mat tidy. Divide runners in spring or autumn, or sow ripe seed. Mildew may occur, but serious pest and disease problems are uncommon. It has some resistance to deer damage and low flammability. The supplied sources do not establish human edibility or toxicity.