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GoldDust® Mecardonia hybrid

Exposure
  • Sun
Flower Season
  • Spring
  • Summer
Mature Size
5" 20" 13cm 51cm
Height: 2" - 5"
Spread: 16" - 20"
Height: 5cm - 13cm
Spread: 41cm - 51cm
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  • Details

    2 - 5 Inches
    12 - 16 Inches
    16 - 20 Inches
    5cm - 13cm
    30cm - 41cm
    41cm - 51cm

    Features

    Small green leaves are covered with yellow nemesia-like flowers from May through October, excellent heat tolerance

    Award Winner
    Heat Tolerant
    Deadheading Not Necessary

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Annual
    Height Category: 
    Short
    Garden Height: 
    2 - 5 Inches 5cm - 13cm
    Spacing: 
    12 - 16 Inches 30cm - 41cm
    Spread: 
    16 - 20 Inches 41cm - 51cm
    Flower Colors: 
    Yellow
    Flower Shade: 
    Yellow
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Green
    Habit: 
    Trailing
    Container Role: 
    Spiller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Sun

    The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).

    Maintenance Category: 
    Easy
    Bloom Time: 
    Planting To Frost
    Hardiness Zones: 
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
    Water Category: 
    Average
    Soil Fertility Requirement: 
    Average Soil
    Uses: 
    Container
    Uses: 
    Landscape
    Uses Notes: 

    Great in landscapes and containers.

    Maintenance Notes: 

    Self-cleaning, no deadheading necessary.

    GoldDust® Mecardonia hybrid 'USMECA8205' USPP 22,871, Can 4,383
  • 32 Reviews

    5
    22
    4
    7
    3
    2
    1
    3
    Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant.
    • I bought one plant about 2 years ago and this little cute plant really performed. My winter was mild and it stayed in my Zone 8a. This past winter with the arctic blast it turned black so I thought I had lost it. Well I cleaned it up and to my surprise it’s gorgeous again. I have looked for more locally but have not been able to find any.

      Sandra Parks
      , Georgia
      , United States
      , 1 year ago
    • I bought one plant about 2 years ago and this little cute plant really performed. My winter was mild and it stayed in my Zone 8a. This past winter with the arctic blast it turned black so I thought I had lost it. Well I cleaned it up and to my surprise it’s gorgeous again. I have looked for more locally but have not been able to find any.

      Sandra Parks
      , Georgia
      , United States
      , 1 year ago
    • I am growing this plant in zone 6b it is small right now but already blooming and starting to fill out. I have this in a container box with some petunias and it is looking great. I love the delicate flowers on this plant and I love that it is a trailing ground cover plant.

      Amanda Behr
      , Pennsylvania
      , United States
      , 2 years ago
    • Bought this plant in May. It bloomed well up through mid June and then started dying underneath. (Dark black masses) I was told it didn’t like fertilizer so I have been just watering it 3 to 4 times weekly because it is in full FL sun and will bake if not watered frequently. I have since trimmed out the dead underneath.. It no longer looks like that fluffy yellow ball of blooms when I first bought it. I don’t think it can handle FL sun all day as a container plant so I am going to limit the amount of afternoon sun it gets in July and August to see if that helps it regain growth again. I was hoping to make it a perennial plant for patio. It’s not looking too promising at this point

      Amy williamson
      , Florida
      , United States
      , 4 years ago
    • This is an outstanding plant. I bought two last spring to fill a couple of leftover pots on my deck. They quickly spread to about two feet across and spilled over the sides of the pot, with a height of about five inches. They bloomed like mad all summer and fall. We watered regularly and fertilized once, and now in early October on Canada's west coast they are still covered in blooms. I will definitely buy several more of these next year and use them on our deck and in flower beds too. I wish they were perennial, but maybe will our mild winter they will make it through.

      Kathy Smith
      , Canada
      , 7 years ago
    • First time buyer in 2016. This is one of the most pleasant surprises. The flowers, while a bit delicate, are a vibrant yellow and it has literally hundreds of flowers blooming as I write this. Given its really low profile it must be used at edge of planter. It spills well and mine is even "climbing" a bit on the Beth's Blue and Tequila Sunrise with which it is grouped. Given the spreading habit of this plant I could see it being an excellent candidate for ground cover provided it does well in native soil. All I have to do with gold dust is water regularly and fertilize weekly. Needs no special treatment and nary an aphid, Jap Beetle or any pest on it. I liked the first one so much I bought another last week. One thing I should mention: the garden center from which I bought these takes impeccable care of their plants. Thus my Proven Winners got off to a great start. Some places like Lowe's or Home Depot kind of take the "winner" out of even Proven Winners.

      Matthew Lamb
      , Maryland
      , United States
      , 8 years ago
    • This plant was new to me this spring (2015) but the fact that it doesn't grow tall made it a perfect choice as a front border plant. Three 2" pots spread quickly and have bloomed continously all summer. Another plus to this plant is that there is no need to deadhead. I loved how it has performed and plan to use it for both a front border plant and in my fairy garden next year. It truly is a Proven Winner!!! Please, continue to offer it.

      Kathy Heuberger
      , Illinois
      , United States
      , 9 years ago
    • This plant is definitely an outstanding plant. I have purchased it for the last four years and it has "proven" to be a constant hit for guests, family members and of course, myself. It is resilient, a stunning color and was so eager to pick them up early, but was profoundly disappointed when traveling this spring to just about every nursery on the south shore to find it, with NO results. My favorite nursery said it wasn't available this year and I raced to many to get the same answer. Please bring it back!! A gorgeous annual and lasts all summer long and into early fall!

      Charlene Comeau
      , Massachusetts
      , United States
      , 9 years ago
    • Care instructions recommend sun but it it flowering beautifully in partial shade here in St. Petersburg. My plants in late afternoon sun are thirsty and not blooming nearly as nicely. It's a non stop bloomer and a great container spiller.

      Alyson
      , Florida
      , United States
      , 9 years ago
    • New to me this year but planted in containers it's quickly become a firm favourite. I'll be planting Gold Dust as a container "spiller"" every spring.

      Malcolm Beck
      , Kansas
      , United States
      , 10 years ago
  • 61 Awards

    Award Year Award Plant Trial
    2018 Top Performer Penn State University
    2012 Top Performer University of Tennessee - Knoxville
    2012 Top Perfomer University of Wisconsin
    2012 Top Landscape Performer North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
    2012 Top 10 Container Plants North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
    2012 Top 10 North Carolina State, JC Raulston Arboretum
    2012 Top Performer Ohio State University Chadwick Arboretum - Springfield
    2012 Top Performer Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Elm Bank
    2012 Top Performer University of Minnesota - Morris
    2012 Top Performer in Container University of Minnesota - Morris
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