Tolmiea menziesii 'Taff's Gold' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

pickaback plant 'Taff's Gold'

Synonyms

Tolmiea menziesii 'Goldsplash'
Tolmiea menziesii 'Maculata'
Tolmiea menziesii 'Variegata'

Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial Houseplants

An herbaceous perennial to 45cm, forming a clump of pale green leaves mottled with cream and pale yellow, with narrow spikes of small brownish flowers

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, 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 Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
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): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Saxifragaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Tolmiea are herbaceous perennials with maple-like, palmately lobed leaves and insignificant purplish or brownish tubular flowers in narrow racemes in late spring and early summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grown in cool conditions in partial of full shade and moist, humus rich soil. Direct sunshine can scorch the foliage. The leaves can be damaged during cold winters. Can be grown as a conservatory or houseplant in cool conditions and indirect filtered light. Water freely and apply a balanced fertiliser monthly; water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Divide in spring. Remove and pot up plantlets from the leaves in mid- to late summer or peg leaves into potting compost and remove plantlets when rooted

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Garden edging
Ground cover

Pruning

Trim back winter-damaged foliage in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free