Height: 6 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 9
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. It has attractive green evergreen foliage. The glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. It produces olive green capsules from early summer to late fall. The smooth bark and tan branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Landscape Attributes
Slender Goldshower is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This shrub 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;
Planting & Growing
Slender Goldshower will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.
This shrub 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. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. 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 makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use 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 grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.