The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Florida golden aster (Chrysopsis floridana) from protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) due to recovery.  

The Florida golden aster is a perennial herb. This plant grows approximately 1 to 1-1/2 feet tall and has yellow daisy-like blooms about 1 inch in diameter. This herb has a short life cycle and reproduces by seeds, which are dispersed by the wind.  

The decision to delist the Florida golden aster is based on the current number of populations on protected conservation lands and because the geographic distribution has exceeded the criteria in the species’ recovery plan. This determination is based on the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that the threats to the species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the ESA. 

This remarkable recovery success was achieved as a result of 37 years of habitat acquisition and management, as well as planting this species in strategic areas to bolster and expand the population on those conservation lands.  

According to the 1989 Recovery Plan, the Service could delist the species if 20 new geographically distinct populations were established. Of the 30 new distinct populations of the Florida golden aster, 25 now grow on non-governmental, local, state, and federal lands protected for conservation, lands that have management plans benefitting the habitat occupied by the species. There are also a number of private landowners with populations of the plant on their lands. Because of these efforts, the aster can no longer be considered in danger of extinction or at risk of becoming so in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. It no longer meets the ESA’s standard for protection.  

The Florida golden aster is found in very dry uplands east and southeast of the Tampa Bay area of central Florida. Its historical range is thought to span parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Highlands and Hardee counties, but the true range is not known for certain because the ecosystems it occurs on were converted to residential, commercial, and agricultural uses after the region was settled.  

When the species was listed as endangered in 1986, all nine known populations of the species occurred in five locations in southeastern Hillsborough County. Since listing of the species, increased survey efforts have resulted in the discovery of additional populations, including occurrences further inland from the initial coastal populations. Many of the newly discovered locations have since been acquired as conservation lands with active conservation management activities implemented to improve habitat conditions. Planting on conservation lands in Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Pinellas counties has also benefited the species. As of the most current surveys across the species range (2006 – 2018, depending on the population), there are 30 known populations, natural and outplanted, occurring in five counties (Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas). 

This species was listed as endangered Sept. 26, 1986, under the ESA. On Feb. 8, 1989, the Service released a recovery plan. Five-year reviews were completed in 2009 and 2017. Both indicated that the species status was improving. 

The Florida golden aster grows in the open, white sandy soils of Florida scrub and adjacent sandhill communities, but development and agriculture that has destroyed, fragmented and degraded this habitat put the native wildflower at risk. 

The Service will implement a post-delisting monitoring plan for a minimum of five years after delisting to ensure that it remains stable.  

The rule, post-delisting monitoring plan, Species Status Assessment and 5-year review are available at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2019–0071.