Bloomipedia
Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa)
Photo: Bob Miller via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Hairy false goldenaster

Heterotheca villosa

Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) is a low shrub in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Hairy false goldenaster is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–September.

23states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
3,058U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota

Quick look

Heterotheca villosa, commonly known as the hairy goldenaster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae found in central and western North America.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 23 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota. NatureServe
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 485 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #95 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 277 research-grade sightings of it in South Dakota, ranking #49 among the 126 flowers on our South Dakota list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 270 research-grade sightings of it in North Dakota, ranking #22 among the 116 flowers on our North Dakota list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (259 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MontanaNativefew records (20)485
South DakotaNativefew records (37)277
North DakotaNativefew records (40)270

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records hairy false goldenaster in 23 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

South Dakota counties with USDA records: Beadle, Bennett, Brookings, Brown, Buffalo, Codington, Corson, Custer, Day, Fall River, Haakon, Hamlin, Harding, Jones, Lawrence, Lyman, Marshall, McPherson, Minnehaha, Pennington, Perkins, Roberts, Stanley, Todd, Tripp.

North Dakota counties with USDA records: Barnes, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Ward, Wells, Williams.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Hairy false goldenaster a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
6.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
130
Annual precipitation range
10 to 26 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
Field Collections Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for HEVI4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 539 counties across 23 states; the most are in Colorado (54), Montana (54), Nebraska (48).

Other Heterotheca on Bloomipedia (3): Camphorweed, Telegraphweed, Stiffleaf false goldenaster.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Montana flowers

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: June–September
Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)

Arrowleaf balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sagittata

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: May–June
Great blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)

Great blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

Native

🌼 Blooms in MT: June–August

Sources