Aurinia saxatilis (basket of gold, "Iwanazuna")

Japanese name: イワナズナ （岩薺）
Scientific name: Aurinia saxatilis

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial 10–30 cm tall, growing in rocky mountainous regions in its native range.
It grows in a mound.
Fine hairs cover the whole plant.
There are basal leaves and stem leaves; the basal leaves are spatulate, 3–8 cm long, and often pinnately divided.
It bears dense yellow four-petaled flowers about 1 cm across.
The fruit is a silicle.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by stem cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
Take care to avoid excess moisture; for potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
In spring and autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
Cutting back after flowering makes it less prone to stuffiness and easier to get through the summer.
Cutting back also keeps the plant in a rounded, bushy shape.
Aphids can occur.

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