Japanese name: キントラノオ（金虎尾） Scientific name:Galphimia gracilis
[Overview]
An evergreen shrub about 2 m tall.
Young branches are covered with reddish brown hairs.
Leaves are simple and opposite, elliptic to ovate, 3–5 cm long and 1–2 cm wide, and tinged with a powdery white.
There is a pair of glands at the base of the leaf.
The leaf stalk is short.
Panicles at the branch tips bear yellow, star-shaped, five-petaled flowers 1–2 cm across.
It flowers all year round if the temperature is suitable.
The fruit is a capsule.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
In warm regions it can be grown outdoors, but it is safest to keep it at 10 °C or above for overwintering.
It prefers fertile, well-drained, acidic soil.
It prefers a sunny location, but it weakens in the direct sun of midsummer, so in summer place it in partial shade or provide shading.
For potted plants, from spring to autumn water thoroughly when the soil surface dries and keep it on the dry side in winter; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release chemical fertilizer placed on the soil.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
