I first met the North American (Mexico) native perennial, Galphimia glauca on a 2019 visit to the former Unique Plant Nursery and Garden in NC, returning home with a starter plant, propagated by plantsman/designer, Sebastian Hamilton. It didn’t take long to become a huge fan of the genus. Galphimia is a member of the Malphigiceae family, which contains quite a few tropicals, but few hardy genera. A few folks may have grown its cousin, Heteropterys.
Our original plant of golden showers has thrived as a dieback perennial, reaching 6′ tall x 9′ wide by years end. The terminal stalks of bright yellow flowers start for us in early September, and continue until frost. For us, it has thrived in both full and part sun, growing beautifully in some of the driest spots on our property. Hardiness Zone 8a – 10b, and possibly colder.
I have grown this plant for several years in Southern Pines, NC zone 8a. It has done very well in full sun and sandy well drained soil. I have grown it during the first summer in a decorative pot and then planted in the garden in the fall. It looks great in a yellow pot and that also gives me a chance to grow it into a bigger size before planting in the landscape. Often it begins blooming in the summer. I have purchased the plants on trips to Florida and am thrilled that I will now be able to get them from PDN.