Basket of gold
Aurinia saxatilis
Basket of gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6–12 in tall and 12–18 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 water6–12 in tall and 12–18 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
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At a glance
- Botanical name
- Aurinia saxatilis
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Compactum', 'Citrina'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 6–12 in tall and 12–18 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~13–18 in apart
- Growth habit
- Mounding
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
- Winter cover
- Partial winter cover
- Bloom length
- 2–3 weeks
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–7
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom time
- mid spring, late spring
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
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 1–2×/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 6–12 in tall and 12–18 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 3–7. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–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 a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, 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.
