Balduina spp.

Honeycombhead

Asteraceae

Southeastern United States coastal plain

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Balduina spp. is a small genus of three herbaceous species in the sunflower family Asteraceae, native to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. The common name honeycombhead refers to the deep, honeycomb-like pits of the flower head receptacle left after the seeds fall. Plants grow 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall as annuals, biennials, or short-lived perennials, with slender, branching stems rising from a basal rosette. Leaves are alternate, narrow, linear to spoon-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, and mostly crowded toward the base. Yellow flower heads 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) across have notched ray florets around a domed disk; in B. atropurpurea the disk is deep red-purple. Flowering occurs in late summer and autumn. After bloom the receptacle hardens into the pitted, comb-like structure that holds and then releases the seeds. Growth is upright and open, and plants are short-lived, relying on seed to persist.

Native Range

Native to the southeastern coastal plain of the United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Louisiana and Texas. Plants grow in sandy pine flatwoods, savannas, sandhills, and bogs; B. atropurpurea is restricted to wet pine savanna and is rare across its range.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native plant gardens, restored pine savannas, and moist wildflower meadows, spaced 10-16 inches (25-40 cm) apart. The late-season yellow flowers and pitted seed heads suit naturalistic and pollinator plantings. Plants need open, sunny, low-nutrient ground and reseed rather than persisting as long-lived clumps.

How to Identify

Recognized by yellow daisy heads on slender stems and, after flowering, by the hard receptacle pitted like a honeycomb. Leaves are narrow and clustered mostly at the base, with smaller leaves up the stem. B. uniflora bears a single head per stem with all-yellow flowers, while B. atropurpurea has a dark red-purple disk.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread8" - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs from late summer into autumn, mainly August through October across the range. Heads open over several weeks, with plants in a stand blooming together. The pitted seed heads persist into winter after the rays drop.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun in moist to seasonally wet, sandy, acidic soils low in nutrients, matching their native pine savanna habitat. B. angustifolia tolerates drier sandhill conditions, while B. uniflora and B. atropurpurea need consistently moist ground. Plants are intolerant of rich soil, shade, and competition from taller vegetation. In the wild, periodic fire keeps the open habitat that the genus depends on. Few cultivated pests occur, but seedlings are crowded out without bare soil for germination. Plants are short-lived and maintained from self-sown seed.

Pruning

No routine pruning is needed on these short-lived plants. Spent stems can be left standing so the pitted seed heads release seed, or cut back once seed has dropped. Removing competing vegetation around plants supports the open conditions they need to reseed.

Pruning Schedule

fallwinter