Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Gold Bug Japanese False Nettle

Description:

Grown primarily for its dazzling foliage, this variety produces small, fuzzy, creamy yellow new leaves that become increasingly flecked with green as they mature; an outstanding color display for the garden or containers

Ornamental Features

Kogane Mushi Japanese False Nettle's attractive tomentose round leaves emerge buttery yellow in spring, turning green in colour with showy creamy white variegation throughout the season on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth.

Landscape Attributes

Kogane Mushi Japanese False Nettle is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Kogane Mushi Japanese False Nettle is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Kogane Mushi Japanese False Nettle will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant should be grown in a location with partial shade or which is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Kogane Mushi Japanese False Nettle is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use 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. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.