Aureolaria virginica: Country Or Region Of Origin
E. U.S.A. to Texas
Plant Profile: Aureolaria virginica
Taxonomy: Aureolaria virginicaNames
Downy Oak Leach, Downy Yellow False Foxglove, False Foxglove
Phonetic Spelling:or-ee-ah-LAIR-ee-uh vir-JIN-ih-kuh
Genus:Aureolaria
Species:virginica
Family:Orobanchaceae
Downy Oak Leach is a native herbaceous perennial that exhibits hemiparasitic behavior on white oaks, yet it contains chlorophyll and is capable of photosynthesis. This plant is typically found in the mountainous regions of North Carolina, thriving in dry to mesic forests, along streambanks, and in disturbed areas. It is a favorite food source for deer.
The yellow flowers bloom from June to August, forming terminal clusters of funnel-shaped blossoms that sit atop downy stems. This species thrives in partial sunlight and prefers rocky, clay, or sandy loam soils. For optimal growth, it is advisable to plant the seeds or the plants near a tree from the white oak family.
Aureolaria virginica Feature Summary
Aureolaria virginica Image Gallery
Tags
#fall flowers
#wildlife plant
#yellow flowers
#spring flowers
#stream banks
#NC native
#disturbed areas
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#parasitic
#nectar plant fall
#nectar plant spring
#partial shade tolerant
#woodlands
Similar Plants
Aureolaria virginica Feature Summary
Attributes
E. U.S.A. to Texas
AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV Canada: ON
Attracts bees and butterflies
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Fruit
A hairy dry ovoid capsule that splits open when ripe.
Capsule
Flowers
5 yellow petals fused into a corolla tube. Blooms appear in bract axils in terminal racemes in the spring and then again in the fall. They open in the morning and fade by noon.
Gold/Yellow
Raceme
Spring
Fall
4-5 petals/rays
fused petals
Funnel
Tubular
Leaves
Lower stem leaves are opposite, petiolate, simple ovate to lanceolate, 2.5-6 inches long and .5 to 1.5 inches wide. The lower leaves sometimes have lobes or teeth.
Simple
Opposite
Ovate
Lanceolate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Stem
Rigid, brittle, square, and pubescent.
Green
Square
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
3 feet-6 feet
12 inches-3 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Woodland
Riparian
Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Aureolaria virginica Image Gallery
Aureolaria virginica Attributes
Aureolaria virginica: Distribution
AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV Canada: ON
Aureolaria virginica: Wildlife Value
Attracts bees and butterflies
Aureolaria virginica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Aureolaria virginica: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Aureolaria virginica Fruit
Aureolaria virginica: Fruit Description
A hairy dry ovoid capsule that splits open when ripe.
Aureolaria virginica: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Aureolaria virginica Flowers
Aureolaria virginica: Flower Description
5 yellow petals fused into a corolla tube. Blooms appear in bract axils in terminal racemes in the spring and then again in the fall. They open in the morning and fade by noon.
Aureolaria virginica: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Aureolaria virginica: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Aureolaria virginica: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Aureolaria virginica: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Aureolaria virginica: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Aureolaria virginica Leaves
Aureolaria virginica: Leaf Description
Lower stem leaves are opposite, petiolate, simple ovate to lanceolate, 2.5-6 inches long and .5 to 1.5 inches wide. The lower leaves sometimes have lobes or teeth.
Aureolaria virginica: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Aureolaria virginica: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Aureolaria virginica: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Aureolaria virginica: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Aureolaria virginica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Aureolaria virginica: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Aureolaria virginica: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Aureolaria virginica Stem
Aureolaria virginica: Stem Description
Rigid, brittle, square, and pubescent.
Aureolaria virginica: Stem Color
Green
Aureolaria virginica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Aureolaria virginica: Stem Cross Section
Angular
Oval
Round
Square
Aureolaria virginica: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Aureolaria virginica Whole Plant Traits
Aureolaria virginica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Aureolaria virginica Cultural Conditions
Aureolaria virginica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Aureolaria virginica: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Aureolaria virginica: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Aureolaria virginica Landscape
Aureolaria virginica: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Aureolaria virginica: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Aureolaria virginica: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
