How far apart should I plant Basket of gold (golden alyssum)?

About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–45 cm (12–18 in).

Does Basket of gold (golden alyssum) need full sun?

Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Basket of gold (golden alyssum) need?

Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.

How cold-hardy is Basket of gold (golden alyssum)?

It tolerates about -32 °C (-26 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.

When does Basket of gold (golden alyssum) flower?

From about April for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Basket of gold (golden alyssum) poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous.

What grows well with Basket of gold (golden alyssum)?

Traditional lore says rhubarb planted near brassicas helps against clubroot and pests; the evidence is weak and not confirmed by trials. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for cabbage white butterflies and blackfly, drawing some pressure away from brassicas.

Basket of gold (golden alyssum) Aurinia saxatilis

Basket of gold (golden alyssum) (Aurinia saxatilis) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family, native to Rocky places of central and south-eastern Europe and Turkey. It grows 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall and 30–45 cm (12–18 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -32 °C (-26 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.

Plan Basket of gold (golden alyssum) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Basket of gold (golden alyssum) at a glance

Type	Perennial flowering plant, evergreen
Family	Brassicaceae
Mature height	15–30 cm (6–12 in)
Mature spread	30–45 cm (12–18 in)
Spacing	30 cm (12 in) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day
Water	Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none
Soil pH	6–8
Cold hardiness	About -32 °C (-26 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4)
Heat stress	Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F)
Flowering	from about April for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	Moderate
Pollinator value	High
Edible	Not grown as food
Native to	Rocky places of central and south-eastern Europe and Turkey
Common in gardens of	🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇹🇷 Turkey

Is Basket of gold (golden alyssum) toxic?

People: not known to be toxic
Cats: not known to be toxic
Dogs: not known to be toxic

Not poisonous.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Basket of gold (golden alyssum)

Good neighbours

good With Rhubarb: Traditional lore says rhubarb planted near brassicas helps against clubroot and pests; the evidence is weak and not confirmed by trials. Evidence D
good With Nasturtium: Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for cabbage white butterflies and blackfly, drawing some pressure away from brassicas. Evidence C

Questions about Basket of gold (golden alyssum)

How far apart should I plant Basket of gold (golden alyssum)?: About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–45 cm (12–18 in).
Does Basket of gold (golden alyssum) need full sun?: Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Basket of gold (golden alyssum) need?: Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
How cold-hardy is Basket of gold (golden alyssum)?: It tolerates about -32 °C (-26 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
When does Basket of gold (golden alyssum) flower?: From about April for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Basket of gold (golden alyssum) poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous.
What grows well with Basket of gold (golden alyssum)?: Traditional lore says rhubarb planted near brassicas helps against clubroot and pests; the evidence is weak and not confirmed by trials. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for cabbage white butterflies and blackfly, drawing some pressure away from brassicas.

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).

Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden

Notes and assumptions

A rock-garden plant: give it gritty, very free-draining soil, full light and a collar of gravel around the neck; winter wet kills it far more often than cold.
Grey-green rosettes buried in spring under frothy masses of tiny golden-yellow flowers; at its best spilling over a sunny wall. Long sold as Alyssum saxatile.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

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Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Kale Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Radish Raphanus sativus
Bok choy Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
Brussels sprout Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes