Onosma taurica

RHS Plant Profile
golden drop
Award of Garden Merit
Herbaceous Perennial Alpine Rockery

An evergreen perennial, up to 50cm high in flower, with narrow leaves, spoon shaped at the base of the plant and linear on the stems, all covered with fine silvery hairs. Clusters of hanging, tubular, cream or pale yellow flowers are borne on upright flowering stems from late spring to early summer

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 West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Boraginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
A genus of rosette-forming flowering perennials, native to the dry, rocky areas of the Mediterranean and western Asia. Often grown as rock plants, they have narrow, green hairy foliage. Short stems carry long, pendant, tubular pink, yellow, red or white flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SE Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny spot in gritty, free draining soil. Outdoors, grow in a scree bed or plant horizontally in walls or rock garden crevices. Also suitable for an alpine house or cold greenhouse. Protect from excessive rainfall and avoid wetting the foliage when watering

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers in an open frame in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Banks and slopes

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids or to glasshouse whitefly when grown under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free