Turnera Species, Ramgoat Dashalong, Sage Rose, Yellow Alder, Yellow Buttercups
Turnera ulmifolia
Family: | Passifloraceae (pas-ih-flor-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Turnera (TER-ner-uh) (Info) |
Species: | ulmifolia (ul-mif-FOH-lee-uh) (Info) |

Category:
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Evergreen
Foliage Color:
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Bright Yellow
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Blooms repeatedly
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; direct sow after last frost
By air layering
Seed Collecting:
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Casselberry, Florida
Clearwater, Florida(2 reports)
Delray Beach, Florida
Destin, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Key West, Florida
Longwood, Florida
Mayo, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne Beach, Florida
Miami, Florida(4 reports)
Miami Beach, Florida
Naples, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
North Palm Beach, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocoee, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Palm Bay, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida(2 reports)
Port Charlotte, Florida
Rockledge, Florida
Saint Cloud, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Seffner, Florida
Spring Hill, Florida
Tampa, Florida(2 reports)
Umatilla, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida(2 reports)
Williston, Florida
Zephyrhills, Florida
Honomu, Hawaii
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Lincoln Park, Michigan
Ashville, Ohio
Anderson, Texas
Austin, Texas
Deer Park, Texas
Dickinson, Texas
Floresville, Texas
Flower Mound, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Huntsville, Texas
Mc Kinney, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Willis, Texas
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Negative | On Feb 1, 2020, LivingFountain from Clearwater, FL wrote: It is interesting to see so many Floridians love this plant. It's not a plant to allow to grow in your lawn if you love going barefoot. A few years back we purchased a home and I've been trying to get the grass to look nice. This plant seeds itself very well. I'm constantly pulling it out of the yard, if left unattended and you just mow the lawn it eventually has a woody plant base that will continue to grow making it uncomfortable to walk on. Any suggestions on how to kill it in your lawn would be appreciated. |
Neutral | On Aug 7, 2018, Daisey32750 from Longwood, FL wrote: This thing popped up in my flower bed at the front corner of my house. I have no idea where it came from but I left it because I like the flowers. Now it has popped up at the back corner and on the otherside of the house as well. I'm leaving it for now but if it spreads too much I might have to take it out. |
Positive | On Mar 9, 2016, Farvista from Flower Mound, TX wrote: I live in Flower Mound, just a few miles NE of Dallas. I got a Turnera from the Dallas Arboretum plant sale and it was FANTASTIC, bushy and covered with flowers, but after its first season, it hadn't apparently reseeded and I couldn't find a source for it anywhere. (My husband was disappointed. It had become his favorite plant and he's not even interested in gardening!) It then returned the year after that (surprise!) hidden away under a sage bush. I lifted it, along with a substantial amount of soul, to keep from disturbing the taproot. (I found that out the hard way. It really does not like to be disturbed.) I'm really glad to hear that it'll root in water, as I didn't have that much luck with Rootone in soil pots. This plant does NOT like to be replanted if it gets very large at all, b... read more |
Positive | On Dec 8, 2013, Seerenity from Central Florida, FL wrote: I bought two yellow buttercup plants from the distressed plant rack at Lowe's. I planted them in full sun, with lots of water and they revived and took off growing. Produces abundant flowers. Takes a little patience to find the seed cups, which I think like to hide! The cups are very small and fragile, lasting a brief time. I found that if I hold an open envelope under the branch and lightly tap the leaf, I have more luck capturing the seeds. The slightest movement on the leaf or a puff of wind will cause the cup to fall, spilling the seeds. I have picked the cups off by hand, but prefer the envelope method of collection. I threw several seeds into a container of potting soil and now have seedlings sticking their heads up. In addition, I have had good luck with cuttings. I am also ... read more |
Positive | On Oct 4, 2013, Nowyousedum from Oklahoma City, OK wrote: This was a volunteer plant in my garden. A nursery thought it might be allamanda, but that is trumpet-shaped. Found out what it was on this site! So happy to have it in my garden! If it is a little invasive, all the better. I would love to have it again next year. |
Positive | On Jun 12, 2013, chuck7701 from McKinney, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Bright yellow flowers and heavy green contrast makes for a wonderful plant as a summer filler and easy to grow. |
Positive | On Oct 24, 2011, LipLock from Austin, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: This is another plant that will always have a place in my Central Texas garden. It loves the heat and is covered in flowers from April thru November. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love it. It thrives in the sun but will tolerate part shade too. I've had it in my Zone 8B garden for several years but this past spring is the first time it has ever reseeded. It came up everywhere and I couldn't be happier. I have both the yellow and "white" variety (which is my favorite - it's not really white, rather a buttery color with a dark center). Unlike a previous poster, I was able to transplant several of them this past spring when they were about 2" tall. I just spaded them up and moved them. They survived (and thrived in) this worst drought and hottest summer on record in Texas. They... read more |
Positive | On Sep 26, 2011, micki33040 from Big Coppitt Key, FL wrote: This plant is also known as "Yellow Alder" and "Sage Rose." It is tenacious and grows just about anywhere: full sun, shade, dry or moist soil, acidic to alkaline; rich, average, or poor soil; and in the cracks of a sidewalk. It is very drought tolerant. |
Positive | On Aug 14, 2011, rntx22 from Puyallup, WA (Zone 8b) wrote: Growing mine in a pot. It died back in the winter but slowly came back from the roots. Also self seeded around the garden so I have several now! Just pulled up the ones I don't want. Stays loaded with blooms, bees & butterflies love it. |
Positive | On Jun 17, 2009, Artistic1 from Dickinson, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: Bought this plant at the Mercer Arboretum Sale in Houston,TX as Yellow Alder. Has been great. I have it in both pots and in beds. Have rooted it in water. Keep clippings which root in opaque vase on my desk at work and they keep blooming. Blooms all year in this climate. |
Neutral | On Mar 28, 2009, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I have not grown this plant. Yellow Buttercups, Yellow Alder, Sage Rose (Turnera ulmifolia) is native to Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It was introduced to Hawaii and has naturalized. |
Positive | On Apr 15, 2008, easter794 from Seffner, FL wrote: This plant roots very easily. I saw this growing and had been admiring it for a while. I took a cutting and rooted it in water. It grew roots in a matter of days and I planted it in a pot. |
Neutral | On Jul 23, 2007, Islandshari from Rio Rico, AZ (Zone 8a) wrote: This plant is quite lovely to my DH and I. We had several cuttings, and then noticed that it was popping up everywhere. On our last EarthDay we picked up lots of paperwork - and here was Tunera ulmifolia on the "invasive weed" list with a request not to plant it! Luckily we only plant in containers here, so we have kept it under control...but just wanted to post the warning. |
Positive | On Aug 14, 2006, Janey from Deltona, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: I bought two yellow Buttercup plants at Home Depot in Orange City, Fla., and liked them so well, went back for two white ones. I have them in my yard in Deltona, Fla. They are doing well. |
Positive | On Jan 28, 2006, cyndit from Ocoee, FL wrote: I bought this plant at a local Lowe's hardware store. But, about a year after planting, it moved from it's original place in my garden to replant itself in 2 differnent places in a different flower bed around the corner of my house! I'm sure the birds, or wind, spread the seeds. But, I was pleasingly surprised to find it offering up those marvelous yellow blossoms the next summer. The butterflies definitely enjoy the blossoms. It is easy to prune when necessary and it will readily bush back out with new growth. |
Positive | On Aug 19, 2005, MotherNature4 from Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: I love this plant, but never knew of the connection between it and papayas. I'm going to take action on that one right away. Thanks for the great hint, Foodiesleuth. |
Positive | On Jun 13, 2004, foodiesleuth from Honomu, HI (Zone 11) wrote: smfiol says: |
Positive | On Jun 10, 2004, elcee2 from Fort Lauderdale, FL wrote: This plant is easily propagated from stem cuttings. Leafminers are sometimes a problem, taking away from the attractiveness of the foilage. Pinch off damaged leaves, or if serious infestation, cut plant down to woody stems. It will bush back out in no time. |
Positive | On Jun 10, 2004, smfiol from Miami, FL wrote: Turnera ulmifolia (Cuban Buttercup) is the official flower of Cienfuegos, Cuba |
Positive | On Oct 21, 2003, kimkaygirl from Mobile, AL wrote: This plant grows very well in Mobile Alabama. I've had a lot of success with this plant in both full sun and partial shade. Blooms stay open most of the day. |
Positive | On Nov 24, 2002, butterflypea wrote: In Hawaii, Turnera ulmifolia is known as "Sundrops". It is a perennial and blooms year round, growng into a four-foot bush. The two-inch wide, bright yellow flowers open in the morning and are closed by noon. It has tiny seeds that sow prolifically. It will often grow out of a crack in the sidewalk after a seed germinates there. |