Golden Thryallis

Since I was introduced to Golden thryallis this plant has amazed me through the seasons today on Southern Gardening. 

Known botanically as Galphimia glauca, Golden Thryallis starts flowering early in the summer.  The flowers are a bright and cheery yellow arranged in clusters up to six inches long at the ends of branches.  Flowering will continue through the fall. 

The rusty reddish brown branches add attractiveness to golden Thryallis.  The light green leaves are oblong shaped and about one to two inches long.  During cooler temperatures the foliage can take on a bronzy tint. 

Plant in the full sun for best flowering performance as well as overall structure and appearance.  Golden Thryallis is very pruning tolerant, so don’t be afraid to shape the plant.  In fact this is also a great container plant.

Golden Thryallis is native to Mexico and Central America and evergreen in USDA hardiness zones 9B to 11.  But this plant may surprise with its cold hardiness.  In coastal Mississippi temperatures in the mid to low 20s will most likely kill the plant back to the ground.  In north Mississippi, prune to the ground after the first frost and mulch heavily with pine straw or even using a whole bale for winter protection. 

In our Mississippi landscapes where the plant is exposed to regular cold temperatures in the winter we can fully expect to enjoy a three to four foot tall and 2 foot wide plant. 

As you’re planning the garden and landscape for next year consider Golden Thryallis and I’ll bet you will wonder why you haven’t planted it before.  I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.