It's already spring in this area of southern California. Plants are putting on new foliage and many are beginning to pump out flowers. Soon they'll all be vying for attention and it will become increasingly hard to pick a favorite - I can almost hear them crying "choose me, me, me!" already. I was tempted to focus on a couple of these,
Acanthus mollis 'Summer Beauty' and
Phlomis fruticosa, but they're nowhere near their peak yet so I passed them by for now. Instead, I picked
Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' (formerly classified as
Diosma pulchra). It has produced a light scattering of flowers all during the past year but it's blanketed with tiny pink blooms now. It blooms most heavily from winter through spring.
![]() |
| Close-up of Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' in partial shade |
![]() |
| This shrub, sitting along the driveway, gets more sun |
![]() |
| A 'Sunset Gold' on the other side of the front pathway with another one visible in the background, sited at the edge of the lawn |
I have 6 of these plants in the front borders lining the driveway. Two were added recently as part of my ongoing effort to decrease the jumbled appearance of my garden by repeating more of the same elements in individual beds. Pale pink isn't my favorite flower color - I bought
'Sunset Gold' for the chartreuse color of the foliage, which is more evident in new plants than those in full bloom.
![]() |
| This recently planted shrub, not obscured with flowers, provides a better view of the foliage |
The scent of the evergreen foliage, which gave it the common name of 'Breath of Heaven,' was also an attraction. In addition to serving as a good filler plant in the border, the feathery scented foliage is a nice filler in cut flower arrangements. The soft texture also makes it a nice accent for plants with large leaves or sharp edges in garden borders.
'Sunset Gold' is a dwarf variety. It grows about 1.5 feet (.46 m) tall but can spread as much as 4 feet (1.22 m) wide. Mine are placed around the edges of the front borders. It's a well-behaved plant and, unlike its taller cousins, it hasn't required regular pruning to keep its growth under control.
![]() |
| This Coleonema album needs a good pruning twice a year and even then can get straggly-looking |
Coleonema does well in well-drained soil in both full sun or light shade. The yellow gold color is more prominent in full sun. In partial shade, the foliage of
'Sunset Gold' takes on a more lime green shade and it may grow taller. It requires a moderate amount of water. It's said to be hardy to 20 or 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.67 or -3.9 Celsius). It's suited to USDA zones 8-11 (Sunset zones 7-8, 14-24).
Coleonema pulchellum 'Sunset Gold' is my choice as favorite plant of the week for the meme sponsored by Loree of
danger garden.
Visit her site to see her choice and to link to other gardeners' selections.
