Aurinia saxatilis

RHS Plant Profile
gold dust

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gold dust RHS

Other common names

gold basket, golden tuft, rock madwort, eastern madwort, yellow alyssum

Synonyms

Aurinia saxatilis 'Gold Dust'
Alyssum saxatile
Alyssum orientale

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An evergreen perennial to 20cm, forming a low mound of greyish-green leaves with plentiful, small, bright yellow flowers

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Aurinia can be biennials or woody-based, evergreen perennials with simple grey-green leaves and short racemes or panicles of small, yellow or white, 4-petalled flowers in late spring and early summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SE Europe, Turkey, Caucasus

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in an open situation in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in autumn. Propagate by rooting softwood cuttings in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Ground cover

Pruning

Cut back after flowering to maintain compact shape

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free