Basket-Of-Gold

Colorful Combinations

This sunny perennial blooms in April or May, displaying large clusters of small flowers attached to upright stalks. Most varieties flower in shades of yellow and gold, including a bright lemon yellow and soft creamy yellow. The blue-gray foliage adds a cool mat of color to the garden, pleasing the eye with or without flowers. Grow basket-of-gold in a garden as a groundcover or border plant, in a container, or in a rock garden where its foliage and flowers look particularly attractive cascading over stone walls.

Basket-Of-Gold Care Must-Knows

Basket-of-gold loves full sun and dry, average-to-sandy, well-drained soil; soggy soil encourages root rot. Although best flowering occurs under full sun, this plant's foliage will appreciate afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Once established, the low-growing perennial can be quite drought-tolerant. Trim basket-of-gold in the summer after its petals drop. Taking off the top half will help maintain a pleasant form and prevent this plant from aggressively self-seeding.

If desired, fertilize basket-of-gold every other year; too much fertilizer leads to poor flowering conditions and a looser habit. Choose an organic fertilizer at a low dose or place a small amount of compost around plants in the fall.

These are the best plants for trough gardens.

More Varieties of Basket-Of-Gold

'Citrina' basket-of-gold

This variety of Aurinia grows 10-15 inches tall and has lemon yellow flowers. Zones 3-7

'Compacta' basket-of-gold

Aurinia grows 8-10 inches tall and bears clear yellow blooms. Zones 3-7

'Gold Dust' basket-of-gold

Dense Aurinia saxatilis plants are covered in small, bright yellow blossoms from late spring to early summer. Zones 3-7

Plant Basket-Of-Gold With:

Verbena is a spreading plant ideal for cascading over retaining walls, pots, baskets, and window boxes. As long as the soil is extremely well drained, verbena will reward gardeners with countless clusters of small blooms all season. It's fairly drought-tolerant, making it a great choice for hanging baskets, rock gardens, planting in cracks between stones, and other tight places. One annual verbena, 'Imagination', is a standout for taking the hottest, driest conditions. It will even do well in a clay strawberry pot!

Phlox are one of those bounteous summer flowers any large sunny flowerbed or border shouldn't be without. There are several different kinds of phlox. Garden and meadow phlox produce large panicles of fragrant flowers in a wide assortment of colors. They also add height, heft, and charm to a border. Low-growing wild Sweet William, moss pinks, and creeping phlox are effective as ground covers, at the front of the border, and as rock and wild garden plants, especially in light shade. These native gems have been hybridized extensively especially to toughen the foliage against mildew problems; many recent selections are mildew-resistant. Phlox need amply moist soil for best overall health.

Rock cress, as you can guess from the name, is one of those plants that like tough love -- give it a hot, dry crack between some stones somewhere and it will flourish. It can cover a stacked-stone wall or rocky outcropping with beautiful blue-purple flowers. Purple rock cress usually has purple or blue flowers, but rock wall cress is more likely to bloom in white or pink. Both make attractive low mounds that look great at the edge of a retaining wall where they get full sun and excellent drainage. Cut stems back after spring bloom to keep plants compact.