Basket of gold
Aurinia saxatilis
Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6 to 12 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Cascading sheets of golden yellow in spring. Classic rock garden + wall-top plant.
On the CSU listlow to medium water6 to 12 in tall and 12 to 18 in wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10Deer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) David Grossmann, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David Grossmann
- Photo 2: (c) Pavel Kacl, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) Michal Honskus, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 7
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 6 to 12 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide
- Growth habit
- Mounding
- Planting spacing
- ~13 to 18 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid spring, late spring
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom length
- 2 to 3 weeks
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Winter cover
- Partial winter cover
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
Using Basket of gold as a groundcover
Basket of gold grows in low mounds. It fills in to a moderately dense cover. On a slope it helps knit the soil together and control erosion.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer to establish. After establishment, water 1 to 2×/month during dry stretches.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Basket of gold good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Basket of gold is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Basket of gold get?
- It matures to about 6 to 12 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Basket of gold?
- Space Basket of gold about 13 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 18 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Basket of gold hardy on the Front Range?
- Basket of gold is hardy in USDA 3 to 7. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Basket of gold need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Basket of gold native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Basket of gold deer-resistant?
- Basket of gold is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Basket of gold a good firewise plant near the house?
- Basket of gold is rated 8 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Can you walk on Basket of gold?
- Basket of gold isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Will Basket of gold spread or stay put?
- Basket of gold is mounding. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Basket of gold stay green in winter?
- Basket of gold keeps partial cover through Front Range winters.
- Is Basket of gold good for a slope?
- Yes. Basket of gold helps hold soil on Front Range slopes and control erosion once its roots knit in.
- How long does Basket of gold bloom?
- Basket of gold blooms for about two to three weeks on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
