Golden crownbeard © Thomas Mesaglio

Golden crownbeard​

Verbesina encelioides

Quick facts

Status
Permitted s11
Life Cycle
Annual
Growth Form
Herb
Origin
Southeastern North America and South America
Flowers
Yellow
Dispersal
Machinery, soil movement

Names

Other Common Names: Dogweed, golden crown daisy, South African daisy, wild sunflower, goldweed.

Form and function

Fast-growing annual species that typically reaches maturity within a few months. It forms a relatively short-lived seed bank, with seeds generally remaining viable in the soil for 2 to 3 years. Mature plants can grow to a height of up to 1 metre.

Flowers

  • Yellow and resemble small sunflowers.
  • Up to 50 mm wide.
  • Heads occur individually at the ends of branches.
  • Each flower head has up to 15 yellow ray florets.
  • Ray florets are up to 20 mm long and deeply three‑lobed at the tip.
  • Numerous yellow disc florets occur in the centre.

Golden crownbeard © Thomas Mesaglio

Leaves

  • Leaves are lanceolate to ovate in shape.
  • Up to 10 cm long and up to 4 cm wide.
  • Margins are toothed to deeply lobed.
  • Leaves are greyish‑white underneath.
  • Leaves are covered with fine white hairs (especially on the lower surface).
  • Lower leaves are larger, while upper leaves become smaller.

Golden crownbeard leaves © silverydragon

Seeds

  • Seeds or achenes are flat and finely hairy.
  • Up to 8 mm long.
  • Two broad pale‑coloured wings
  • Two types of seeds may be produced, including flat wrinkled seeds and thicker seeds.
  • Seeds are greyish‑brown.

Seed (DBCA)

Roots

  • Tap root.

Habitat

Often found in pastures, riparian areas, open woodlands, grasslands, roadsides, crops, disturbed sites and waste areas. Found in warmer temperate, sub-tropical, semi-arid and tropical regions. Often grows in sandy soils. 

May be confused with...

Similar non-native species: Sunflower (​​Helianthus annuus) and Mountain marigold (Ursinia anthemoides).

How does it spread?

Seed dispersal by machinery, soil movement, roadworks and animals​.

Why is it a weed?

Chemicals released from its roots (allelopathic compounds) enable it to displace native vegetation and prevent native species from re‑establishing after disturbance. ​​It is a significant threat on offshore islands, where it can severely degrade seabird habitats by forming dense barriers that obstruct nesting, reduce nest density, and outcompete native vegetation through shading.​ 

History

Introduced in the early 1900’s from North America. Earliest herbarium record in Western Australia was in 1984 in Perth and in 1988 in Geraldton, however the species was already well established at this time and was abundant from Geraldton to Mandurah in bushlands and road verges.

How to control

Arum Lily

Physical

Arum Lily

Chemical

Arum Lily

Managerial controls

Physical

Isolated patches or individual plants can be removed by hand pulling or grubbing, ensuring the whole plant including the tap root are removed. Ideally before seed set. Ensure to dispose of the plants off site, as they are known to resprout roots. 

Chemical

Large infestations

Use a foliar application method, apply a mix of 1 L of Glyphosate (450g/L), 250 mL of a compatible penetrant in 100L of water, or for more sensitive areas (or areas with more intact bushland), apply a mix of 250 mL Clopyralid (600g/L) and 20mL of a wetting agent with 100L of water and apply at a rate of 2 L/Ha.  Ensure full leaf coverage and spray until just wet.

A more selective broad leaf herbicide effective against Asteraceae species is MCPA (500g/L) at a rate of 1.6 in 100L per Ha.  

Small infestations

Spot spray with 1.5% Glyphsoate (360g/L). Or for more targeted control, apply a mix of 60mL glyphosate (360g/L) in 100L of water, using a wick wiping method, wiping from base to tip, ensuring that both the front and back of the leaves are fully covered. ​

​Note that follow up control will be required on germinating seedlings for at least three years.

Managerial controls

Golden crownbeard responds strongly to fire, with large numbers of seedlings often germinating from the soil seed bank following a burn. While intense, hot fires can kill most existing plants, they can also stimulate substantial post-fire recruitment.  Follow up chemical control is essential to manage post burn seedlings

Further
reading

Minor use permits
external link PER96570 - Glyphosate
external link PER96635 - Clopyralid
external link PER96645 - MCPA

Weed Distribution Map

LSID number: [51269064] | full LSID: [https://id.biodiversity.org.au/taxon/apni/51269064] | field_lsid: [] | taxon: [​​Verbesina encelioides]

ALA Reference

References

  • Atlas of Living Australia. (n.d.) Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex A.Gray. Atlas of Living Australia.
  • Department of Environment and Conservation (2016) Bushland weeds - Golden Crownbeard (Verbesina enceliodes). Department of Environment and Conservation (WA).
  • Feenstra, K. R., & Clements, D. R. (2008) Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 4. Verbesina encelioides, Golden Crownbeard (Magnoliopsida: Asteraceae). Pacific Science, 62(2).
  • Keighery, G., & Sercombe, N. (n.d.). Verbesina encelioides. Department of Conservation and Management
  • Mangrove mountain. (n.d.). Verbesina encelioides (Factsheet). Mangrove.mountain.net.
  • PlantNet. (n.d.) Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex A.Gray. PlantNET - FloraOnline.
  • Weeds of Australia. (n.d.) Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex A. Gray. Weeds of Australia; Lucidcentral.
  • Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). Florabase—the Western Australian flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

Life Cycle

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Notes
Germination
Active growth
Flowering
Fruiting
Regularly or most commonly
Occasionally, given suitable conditions

Management

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Notes
Physical
Chemical
Optimal
Potentially, but conditionally dependent
Last updated: October 2026