Coastal False Asphodel is a native herbaceous perennial found in the coastal region of the eastern and central U.S.A. In its native habitat, it can be found growing in pine barrens, savannas, savanna-pocosin ecotones, and seepage bogs. Its preferred soil contains calcium carbonate (lime). When not it bloom, this plant has a grass-like appearance. There is a basal cluster of narrow leaves that can grow to about 12" tall. Its 15" tall flowering scape has a rough feel with the upper 3" containing a dense cluster of small flowers. The flowers appear in the form of a thyrse, that is they are arranged in groups of 2-3 flowers coming off the stem at the same location.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves form a basal rosette. They have a sticky feel.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
In North Carolina, the white flowers are available from June to August. They appear at the top of the stem in a crowded raceme in clusters of 2 to 7 flowers. Flowers have 6 white tepals and 6 stamens. They will turn orange when dried.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Blue; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
In North Carolina, the fruits are available from September to October. They appear in the form of a capsule, and each capsule contains 2 or more seeds.
Stem detail
The sticky, rough stem is leafless, or it may have 1 to 3 leaves towards the base of the plant. The stem may have some hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southern and central U.S.A.
Distribution
AL , DE , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , NJ , SC , TN , TX , VA