Japanese name: キバナツルネラ Scientific name:Turnera ulmifolia
[Overview]
An evergreen perennial or subshrub about 60–120 cm tall.
The leaves are simple and alternate, lanceolate to oblong, 2.5–12 cm long and 1.3–3 cm wide, hairy on both sides, with a pair of nectaries at the base and conspicuously sunken veins.
The leaf margins have irregular, coarse teeth.
The leaves have an odor.
The flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils; they are yellow, 5-petaled, 4–5 cm across, and last only one day, opening early in the morning and closing in the afternoon.
The fruit is a capsule that splits into 3 parts.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It is sensitive to cold and is often treated as an annual, but it can overwinter outdoors in regions without frost.
In cold regions, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors to a sunny spot for winter.
It prefers a sunny site with well-drained soil, is vigorous, and is easy to grow.
From spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; keep it on the dry side in winter.
Apply slow-release fertilizer during the growing season.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
