Crocanthemum canadense (L.) Britton

Canadian Frostweed; Long Branch Frostweed; Canadian Sunrose

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Canadian Frostweed is a native perennial in the Rock-Rose family (Cistaceae). It is found in the southeastern section of Alabama. Canadian Frostweed grows in sand hills, in xeric Longleaf pine woods, in scrub oak woods, on old dunes, in cemeteries, and on dry roadsides. It is a perennial subshrub from a tap root. There are usually several erect stems from a rootstock that are from 1-2 feet in height. The stems are reddish in color and pubescent with stellate hairs. Leaves are cauline (on the stem), alternate, petiolate, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate-elliptic in outline, entire, and pubescent with simple and stellate (star shaped hairs) hairs. The lateral veins on the lower surface of the leaf are raised. Flowers are chasmogamous (showy and open) and cleistogamous (non-opening, self-pollinating). Chasmogamous flowers are produced in terminal cymes, and cleistogamous flowers are produced on lateral leafy branches 1–3 months later than the chasmogamous flowers. The chasmogamous flowers have six lanceolate sepals, and 5-6 bright lemon-yellow petals. The fruit is a capsule. The flowers of Canadian Frostweed are very delicate, and the petals detach easily. They are at their best early in the morning. On hot days they soon wither.—A. Diamond

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Native

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