PlantFiles: Camphorweed
Heterotheca subaxillaris

Even though I admit it can be attractive if kept pruned for a better flowering show, I still think of this plant as a weed. It does well in my yard if I don't pull it up early, and mostly is a roadside and disturbed areas weed in Florida. It is probably native to sandhill woodlands, sand dunes, and sandy prairies, in low densities, and has expanded to flourish in disturbed areas. With the splitting of Chrysopsis and Pityopsis as separate genera, this is the only species of Heterotheca in the southeastern United States.

Common names: Golden Aster, Camphor Daisy
Considered a weed by many, but admired by native plant enthusiasts.

The rough and usually toothed leaves emit a strong camphor aroma when crushed or disturbed and are sticky due to the hairs being gland-tipped. Cut the plant to a low level in late summer and it will keep blooming until the first frost or even later providing mounds of golden yellow blooms. Ranchers really dislike this plant because it is not grazed by livestock. I assume it is deer resistant.