Heterotheca villosa is a common herbaceous plant native to North America, commonly known as golden aster or hairy golden aster. Golden aster has a variety of synonyms and common names such as hairy false goldenaster, rough-leaved goldenaster, stinking goldenaster, and hairy goldenweed. The plant is valued for its attractive golden-yellow flowers and is used in traditional medicine to treat conditions such as respiratory disorders and inflammation. While the plant has many synonyms, it is primarily recognized for its distinctive hairy leaves which are distinguishable from other common aster plants. Heterotheca villosa is often used in landscaping and is easy to grow from seed.