Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Spray-of-Gold, Shower of Gold, Galphemia

Description:

This variety is great for borders, foundation plantings, or shaped into low hedges; showy yellow flower clusters all year in warmer areas, or in summer as an annual; pointed green leaves are attractive; may be moved indoors in winter

Ornamental Features

Slender Goldshower features showy racemes of yellow star-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from early winter to late fall. Its attractive glossy pointy leaves remain green in colour throughout the year. It produces olive green capsules from early summer to late fall. The tan stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Slender Goldshower is a multi-stemmed annual with a more or less rounded form. 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 plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Slender Goldshower is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Slender Goldshower will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. 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 does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

Slender Goldshower 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.