Duranta erecta 'Gold Mound'

Other Names:  Golden Dewdrop, Pigeon Berry, Skyflower

Duranta 'Gold Mound,' commonly called Golden Dewdrop, is a compact version featuring bright yellow foliage when grown in a site that receives at least 6 hours or more of direct sunlight daily. If left to grow naturally, it might reach 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide; however, it responds very well to occasional trimming for formal shapes and hedges at half that size. From summer to fall, it features loose sprays of pretty lavender-blue flowers that are followed by bright orange berries for extra appeal. Butterflies and hummingbirds will certainly appreciate the flowers. A subtropical plant, Gold Mound is evergreen in USDA Zones 10-11, where it is ideal for use as a brightly colored specimen, grouping, or hedge. It is root hardy in Zones 9a-9b, so is best grown like an herbaceous perennial in these zones. In cold-winter climates north of Zone 9a, it is best grown in containers for situating on or around patios and other outdoor sitting and living spaces but brought indoors during winter when temperatures drop below 40F.

Gold Mound Duranta is ideal for use as an accent plant in smaller garden spaces in groupings or as a natural or formal clipped hedge in landscape borders and home foundation plantings in USDA Zones 9-11. In cold-winter climates north of Zones 9a, it is best grown as an annual or in containers that can be overwintered indoors. It is a fine addition to seasonal color beds, yellow theme gardens, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, tropical gardens, and formal gardens. 

Gold Mound Duranta is easy to grow in moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and as much sun as you can give it for the best and brightest foliage color. We suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is evergreen in Zones 10-11 and root hardy in Zones 9a-9b. In cold-winter climates north of Zone 9a, it is best grown in a container that can be brought indoors during the colder winter months. Though moderately drought tolerant when established, it tends to prefer consistently moist soil during the hotter summer months. It can be left to grow naturally or trimmed on occasion to maintain formal shapes and hedges. When growing in a container, make sure to use a pot with a drainage hole(s) at the bottom. We suggest a 50/50 mixture of premium potting MIX and quality potting SOIL and keep the soil moist but not soaking wet.