Plant Type

Perennial, Herb

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Pink

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Yellow Green, Yellow

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Fragrance

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Patio, Raised Planter

 

Special Uses

Container, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies

This is a golden-leaved version of the herb garden staple. New foliage emerges in the spring a bright yellow to chartreuse, sometimes becoming a yellow to soft green as the leaves mature. The habit is more sprawling than the species, growing about 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. 'Aureum' benefits from a little mid-day shade, so maybe plant it next to a taller herb like parsley or tarragon. Leaves are aromatic and used fresh or dried. Flowers, light pink to purple clusters, appear sporadically throughout the summer and are also edible.

Grow in well drained, average to dry soil in full sun. Tolerant of poor, rocky, shallow soils. Heat and drought tolerant. Will grow in a compost-amended soil but it needs to drain well and not be too rich. Too much nitrogen will cause the plant to grow vigorously and be leggy, but it will lose flavor and pungency. Use leaves fresh or dried, and use the flowers fresh.