Flower
Basket of Gold
Basket of Gold is a low-growing, spring-blooming perennial native to central Europe and Turkey, producing sheets of bright yellow flowers that cascade beautifully over rock gardens and walls. This mat-forming cultivar grows 6, 12 inches tall and spreads 12, 18 inches wide, thriving in Zones 4, 7 with minimal fuss once established. Hardy from frost and tolerant of drought and poor soils, it flowers prolifically in April and May, reaching maturity in 56, 63 days from seed. The variety is edible, with flowers suitable for garnishes and culinary use, and can be grown as an annual ground cover or naturalized in rocky, well-drained sites.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-7
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy Loam, Low Fertility
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
18 in
Width
TypeSpreading
Spacing
6
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-7
Size
12in H x 18in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Golden blooms cover this compact perennial in spring, creating a visual spectacle particularly striking when tumbling over rocks or spreading across shallow, sandy soils. Its genuine drought tolerance and ability to thrive where many plants struggle make it a reliable performer in rock gardens and harsh growing sites. The foliage remains attractive after flowering dies back, providing season-long structure, though in hot, humid climates gardeners often choose to treat it as an annual or short-lived perennial for the most reliable display.
Common Uses
Basket of Gold earns its name as a dramatic spring display plant, most at home in rock gardens, alpine troughs, and cascading over stone walls where its golden flowers create a memorable show. It functions as a ground cover in dry, sunny locations and naturalizes beautifully in rocky or sandy sites where tending is minimal. The edible flowers add a mild, slightly peppery note to salads and can be used as garnishes; this dual-purpose quality appeals to gardeners seeking ornamental plants with culinary potential.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds indoors 6, 8 weeks before the last frost, pressing them lightly into the soil surface or covering them no more than 1/8 inch deep. Keep soil moist and maintain temperatures between 60, 70°F for germination. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7, 10 days before transplanting after the last frost date. Space transplants 6 inches apart in full sun in well-drained, sandy soil. Water gently after planting and allow soil to dry between waterings.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in fall in mild climates (Zones 4, 7), pressing seeds into bare soil in full sun. Seeds need cool, moist conditions over winter for spring germination. In spring, sow outdoors after the last frost in well-draining soil.
Pruning
After flowering concludes in late spring, cut back plants by up to half their height to maintain an attractive, compact mounded form and encourage bushier growth. This pruning also helps extend the plant's lifespan by preventing woody, leggy stems. In mild winters, minimal pruning is needed beyond deadheading spent flowers.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Drought TolerantEdible
Bloom Time
April
Tolerances
DroughtDry SoilShallow-rocky Soil
Scientific Classification
Aurinia saxatilis 'Dudley Nevill Variegated'
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Aurinia
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Aurinia saxatilis hails from the mountainous regions of central Europe to Turkey, where it evolved to survive in rocky, nutrient-poor conditions. The species has been cultivated in European gardens for centuries, prized by rock garden enthusiasts for its reliable spring color and resilience. The 'Dudley Nevill Variegated' cultivar represents a selection that brings variegation to this classic species, preserving the vigor and charm of the wild form while adding visual interest beyond bloom time.”