BOTANICAL: Aurinia saxatilis (prev: Alyssum saxatile)

PRONOUNCED: aw-RIN-ee-uh saks-ah-TILL-iss

Click on the pic for a close up.

COMMON: Basket of gold, Goldentuft alyssum, Gold dust, Madwort. BLOOM HEIGHT LIGHT ZONE Mid-April to late May 6" - 1 ft. Sun 3 - 7 April - Bright yellow COMMENTS: Great masses of 1/4 inch flowers in compact clusters cover the grayish leaves of this rambling, long-lived perennial. Vivid in full sun for walks, rock gardens and border edgings. It thrives in neutral, sandy or gravelly, well-drained soil. If the soil is too rich, soft, less winter-durable growth is encouraged, therefore, do not fertilize. After blooming, trim off spent blooms to shape with garden shears. If it finds a good home, self-seeding can be counted upon. Is an evergreen in areas of mild winters. Some choice varieties: A. saxatilis 'Citrina' (syn. Alyssum saxatile 'Citrinum') (1 ft. x 2 ft.) forms a fairly large mounds of good silver-gray foliage with contrasting yellow flowers. A. saxatilis 'Dudley Neville variegated' (9" x 1 ft.) has attractive large, gray-green leaves with creams margins. A. saxatilis 'Compacta' grow only 6- to 8-inches high. A. saxatilis 'Flore pleno' has double blooms. A. saxatilis 'Golden queen' has gray foliage and pale yellow flowers. A. saxatilis 'Sunny border apricot' (6" - 10"). The blooms have an apricot tint. A. saxatilis 'Tom Thumb' has a maximum height of only 6-inches.