Southern Whitetop
Doellingeria sericocarpoides
- Native to:
- United States
iNaturalist: © tallpaultheforester (iNaturalist #93627647)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Doellingeria
- Species:
- Doellingeria sericocarpoides
- USDA Symbol:
- DOSE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
aeroplane looper moth (Diachrysia aereoides), Allen's Aphelia (Aphelia alleniana), Brown-hooded owlet (Cucullia convexipennis), Carmenta corni, Coleophora bidens, Cucullia florea, Cucullia postera, Dichrorampha immaculata, Gnorimoschema gallaeasterella, Impecunious Borer Moth (Papaipema impecuniosa), Melanchra assimilis, Puss Moth (Eupsilia devia), Spiramater lutra, Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth (Trichordestra legitima), Uncertain (Allagrapha aerea), Harris's Cracker (Charidryas harrisii), orange oakleaf (Charidryas nycteis), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), tawny crescent (Phyciodes batesii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes following fire; benefits from periodic burning in native prairie and savanna habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers open woodlands and meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Requires light for germination; surface sow seeds.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI