Height: 4 feet
Spacing: 30 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: (annual)
Other Names: Everlasting
Description:
A small, bushy evergreen shrub that produces lightly camphor scented silvery foliage topped with long lasting yellow flowers in summer; will not grow in shade and prefers some shelter
Ornamental Features
Cape Gold is covered in stunning clusters of yellow flowers at the ends of the branches in mid summer. Its attractive tomentose pointy leaves remain silver in color throughout the year.
Landscape Attributes
Cape Gold is a multi-stemmed annual with a mounded form. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Cape Gold is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Cape Gold will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 30 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings.
Cape Gold is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
