Aurinia saxatilis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- aw-RIN-ee-ah saks-ah-TIL-iss
- Description
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Basket-of-gold is an evergreen perennial in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) native to mountainous and rocky areas of Europe. The Genus name comes from the word aureus meaning golden. The specific epithet means found among rocks.
This is a low-growing spreading plant that reaches a height of 6-12 inches and a width of 1- 1.5 feet. It prefers full sun in very well-draining sandy and rocky soils. It is drought and deer-tolerant. Basket-of-gold will struggle in zones higher than 7. Propagates by seed in the early spring or division in the fall.
The mass of yellow flowers appears in spring and last 4-6 weeks. The foliage will continue as an attractive ground cover in cooler summer areas.
Basket-of-gold was given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Use this plant as a ground cover, in a rock garden or cascading over walls or rocks.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids. Plants can be short-lived.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aurinia
- Species:
- saxatilis
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Europe to N. Balkan Peninsula
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Siliqua
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit dries and splits to reveal seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Bright yellow, gold, apricot corymbose panicles blooms appear April-May. They are cup-shaped with 4 petals
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The gray-green basal leaves are 4-5 inches long and spatulate in shape. The stem leaves are smaller and linear to oblanceolate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
