Crocanthemum canadense (L.) Britton
Helianthemum canadense (L.) Michx. var. sabulonum Fernald
Helianthemum canadense (L.) Michx.
Longbranch frostweed
Helianthemum means roughly “sunflower,” from the Greek Ἥλιος (helios), or sun, and ανθέμιον (anthemion), or flower. These plants are native to North America.
Plants: 8–24″ (20–60 cm) tall, branching from a single stem to multiple branches when mature, with the new branches larger than the original.
Leaves: Alternate, up to 1¼ ⨉ ¼″ (3.2 cm ⨉ 8.4 mm), narrow, sessile, tapered at the base and pointed or blunt at the tip. Fine hairs on leaf undersides make them look gray-green.
Flowers: Bright yellow, with five overlapping petals, ten or more orange-tipped stamens, ¾–1¼″ (1.9–3.2 cm) in diameter. Later in the season, tight clusters of self-pollinating flowers without petals develop in leaf axils and branch tips. Flowers appear from May to June.
Fruits: Round capsules enclosed by persistent sepals.
Habitats: Dry, sandy, and rocky areas, like open woods, edges of woods, along trails and roads, and in open prairies.
Online References:
5/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts 
ID is uncertain 
6/1/2012 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts 
5/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
6/2/2016 · Townsend Wildlife Management Are, Townsend, Massachusetts 
6/2/2016 · Townsend Wildlife Management Are, Townsend, Massachusetts 
6/1/2012 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts 
6/1/2012 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts 
6/22/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts 
6/2/2016 · Townsend Wildlife Management Are, Townsend, Massachusetts 
6/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts 
6/2/2016 · Townsend Wildlife Management Are, Townsend, Massachusetts 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Malvales | Includes cacao, balsa, lime, linden, basswood, daphnes, hibiscus, hollyhocks, okra, baobab, cotton, kapok, and many others |
| Family | Cistaceae | Rock-rose family |
| Genus | Helianthemum | From the Greek helios, “sun,” and anthemon, “flower,” because the flowers open only in the sun |
| Species | canadense | “Of or from Canada” |
Helianthemum canadense description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 Feb 2025.
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