# gold coin (*Pallenis maritima*)

The gold coin plant is a bright, cheerful flower that grows in sandy areas near the coast. Its lovely yellow flowers look like shiny coins, making it a fun sight for little explorers!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![gold coin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Asteriscus_maritimus_flowers.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asteriscus_maritimus_flowers.jpg)

## Appearance

The gold coin has bright, sunny yellow, daisy-like flowers with a slightly darker yellow-orange center. It grows low to the ground in spreading clumps, displaying small, slightly hairy, grey-green leaves. Its vibrant color makes it stand out vividly against sandy or rocky backdrops.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Pallenis

## Interesting facts

- Even on cloudy days, its sunny yellow petals seem to glow with their own light.
- Its bright flowers are like a welcoming landing strip for thirsty bees and butterflies!
- Scientists believe its seeds might be carried by ocean currents to new beach homes!
- The gold coin plant is sometimes called 'sea daisy' because it loves living by the ocean.

## Special abilities

- **Sun Shield:** The gold coin has tiny hairs on its leaves that reflect sunlight, protecting it from intense coastal sun.
- **Thirsty Roots:** The gold coin can grow in sandy soils using roots adapted to find water in dry, nutrient-poor environments.
- **Salt Defender:** The gold coin can tolerate salty air and soil, allowing it to thrive right next to the sea.
- **Speedy Sprouter:** The gold coin produces many seeds quickly, helping it reproduce fast and spread even in harsh conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — An important pollinator for its bright flowers.
- **Eaten by:** Italian land snail (*Helicella itala*) — Snails may graze on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify gold coin?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is gold coin?

10-30 cm

### How wide does gold coin spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on gold coin?

3-5 cm

### When does gold coin bloom?

Spring to fall

### Is gold coin edible?

No

### Is gold coin toxic?

None

### What is gold coin's lifecycle?

Annual

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Gold Coin: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gold-coin)