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Digging
for Gold
Yellow is a wonderful colour in the garden but
perhaps we get a bit too much of it in spring
with 聭a host of golden daffodils聮
and a sea of blooming forsythia. By summer the
whites and vibrant reds and blues have wiped
out that golden image.
 Splashes
of cooling primrose, butter, gold or corn yellow
make a welcome change in July and August, lighting
up dark corners and calming the riot of gaudy
hues. Foliage is more dramatic than flower and
will last all summer or, in the case of evergreens,
the four seasons.
There is no need to settle
for plants with variegated leaves. There are
plenty of sunny plants to choose from. Top of
my list is Physocarpus opulifolius 聭 Dart聮s
Gold聮. The three lobed leaves are a bright
yellow, holding their colour even in full sun.
Its white flowers appear in June. It is happy
growing in most soil types. Weigela 聭Looymansii
Aurea聮 prefers to be planted in light shade.Its
butter yellow leaves tend to scorch in full
sun. The pink flowers cover the plant in late
spring and early summer, contrasting well with
the foliage.
 Cornus
alba 聭Aurea聮 is similar in leaf but
will tolerate wet soil conditions. The young
stems are deep red and if pruned to within 9
inches of the ground each spring they will provide
a good show in winter before the leaf appears.
The Elderberries offer a range of easy to grow,
golden leafed deciduous shrubs. Sambucus nigra
聭Aurea聮 and S.canadensis 聭Aurea聮are
fast growing to 10 ft high with bold yellow
foliage. Sanbucus racemosa 聭Plumosa Aurea聮
is a beautiful plant, slow growing with deeply
cut, bright golden leaves and yellow flowers.
There
are several golden spiraeas, S. 聭Gold Flame聮
and S. 聭Golden Dome聮 are both low
growing with good colour and insignificent flowers.
There is even a climber to brighten up the trellis
or add a glow to a red brick wall. Humulus lupulus
聭Aureus聮, the golden hop, is a rampant,
deciduous, scrambler with soft yellow leaves.
When it comes to golden evergreen plants there
is a conifer to fill every possible gap. There
are cedars, pines,junipers, yews and thujas,
not forgetting the ubiquitous 聭Castlewellan
Gold聮 and 聭 Robinson聮s Gold聮.
There are dozens of golden foliage forms of
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, including C.l. 聭Minima
Aurea聮, a dwarf conifer and C.l. 聭Stewartii聮
which grows to 60 ft.
Thinking of big plants I must mention some great
yellow leafed trees. If you have space, Catalpa
bignonioides 聭Aurea聮 makes a majestic
specimen with enormous soft, yellow leaves and
candles of chestnut like flowers.
Gleditisa
triacanthos 聭Sunburst聮 and Robinia
pseudoacasia 聭Frisia聮 prefer sheltered
conditions where their brilliant yellow leaves
stand out from all around them. Why not start
another gold rush?
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