Aurinia saxatilis aka Basket Of Gold

Taxonomy

Genus Aurinia Family Brassicaceae Order Brassicales Class Magnoliopsida Phylum Tracheophyta
Aurinia saxatilis, also known as yellow alyssum, madwort, goldentuft, or gold-dust, is an ornamental plant native to Asia and Europe. This low-growing, spreading perennial produces a profuse spring bloom of bright yellow flowers, making it particularly attractive in rock gardens or cascaded over rock walls. It is also a good ground cover in summer areas where it does not burn out from high heat and humidity. The plant can remain in the garden as an attractive ground cover unless the foliage depreciates or plants die back from hot summer conditions. It is a mat-forming perennial with woody roots that grows up to 6-12” tall and features spatulate basal leaves and smaller linear-oblanceolate stem leaves, which are gray-green. Bright yellow flowers in corymbose panicles bloom in the spring. The genus name comes from the word aureus, meaning golden, in allusion to the flowers of A. saxatilis, while the specific epithet means found among rocks. Basket-of-gold grows and flowers best in average to sandy well-drained soil in the full sun. After flowering, pruning the plant to 1/2 its size can maintain its shape and vigor.

Common names

Basket Of Gold, Golden Tuft Alyssum, Golden Tuft Madwort

How to care for Basket Of Gold

Difficulty

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Basket Of Gold due to its easy-going nature.

Water

Basket Of Gold should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Basket Of Gold loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

Basket Of Gold thrives in bright and direct sunlight. To ensure your plant receives enough light to survive, place it less than one foot from a window. The current weather in your area may affect the placement in your home. For example, if you live in a region that has longer and more intense periods of sunlight, then you may want to place the plant farther away from the window to avoid direct sunlight and reduce the risk of sunburn. Alternatively, if you live in a region with relatively milder temperatures and less intense sunlight, then you may be able to place the plant closer to the window for increased exposure. Ultimately, the current weather in your area should be taken into consideration when determining the best placement for your Golden Tuft Madwort.

Toxicity

The toxicity level of this plant has not been officially confirmed by Ploi. If there is a possibility of ingestion of plant material with an uncertain toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a medical professional.

Region of origin

Basket Of Gold’s native range is E. Europe. A garden escape in Britain[17].

More info:
Wikipedia

Report a problem