​Yellow Alder

​Turnera ulmifolia

• Common Name: Yellow Alder
  
• Scientific Name: Turnera ulmifolia
  
• Family Name: Turneraceae
  
• Origin: Caribbean basin
  
• Height: 2’ – 3’
  
• Width: 2’ – 3’
  
• Growth: moderate
  
• Zone: 9 - 11
  
• Light Needs: Partial Shade – Partial Sun
  
• Salt Tolerance:  unknown
  
• Soil/PH/Texture: sand, loam or clay soils, acidic – alkaline - pH unknown
  
• Soil Moisture: prefers watering’s every 7 to 14 days during hot, dry weather.
  
• Drought Tolerance: moderate
  
• Pests/Diseases: White flies are often found on the foliage. Severe infestations can injure the plants. Aphids and scales can also infest the foliage, but they are usually not too serious.
  
• Growing Conditions: To use as a low maintenance plant, consider locating alder alone as an accent in a shrub border or in a ground cover to display its natural open habit.
  
• Characteristics: the leaves of this evergreen are green, simple, with opposite/subopposite leaf arrangements, serrated margin edges, 2” -4” length leaves with pinnate venation. The flowers are yellow, 1” – 2” flowers, and bloom year-round.
  
• Propagation: by cuttings and stem division, also may self-seed
  
• Wildlife: attracts butterflies, birds and bees
  
• Facts: blooms will last only a day but are produced all season long.
  
• Designer Considerations: used for mass plantings, ground cover, borders, foundation and in a potted plant if well drained.
  

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Yellow Alder

Location

Butterfly Garden