Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Turnera Species, Cuban Buttercup, Politician's Flower, Sulphur Alder, White Turnera (Turnera subulata) supplied by member gardeners i. Your plant is a perennial called a Cuban buttercup, Turnera ulmifolia. It is really on the edge of our cold-hardiness zone as it grows best in zones 9-11. On the west part of the Nassau County, which is divided by I-95, the zone is 8b whereas the east part of the county is considered 9a.
The Genus Turnera
Family Passifloraceae (formerly Turneraceae)
Scientific Name: Turnera ulmifolia: Common Name: Cuban Buttercup: Plant Type: Evergreen: Leaf Type: Broadleaf: Hardiness Zone: 8, 9, 10, 11 Determine Your Zone. Turnera ulmifolia (Yellow Alder, Cuban Buttercup, Ramgoat Dashalong, Sage Rose, West Indian Holly) The Yellow Alder or Cuban Buttercup produces very attractive showy and vibrant yellow flowers. A free flowering shrub that blooms all year long in the tropic. Native to the Caribbean, the Cuban Buttercup is the official flower of Cienfuegos, Cuba. Plant database entry for Beach Buttercup (Turnera ulmifolia 'Alba') with 2 images, 2 comments, and 34 data details.
This is a medium-sized genus of herbaceous perennials and shrubs native to Africa, North America, and South America. Two species and a hybrid or two are cultivated in the Coastal Southeast.
The Passifloraceae is best known for the passion vines (Passiflora.) Piriqueta is a genus of wildflowers in the Coastal Southeast that is in this family, also. As of 2020, some botanists retain the family name of Turneraceae.
The Passifloraceae is best known for the passion vines (Passiflora.) Piriqueta is a genus of wildflowers in the Coastal Southeast that is in this family, also. As of 2020, some botanists retain the family name of Turneraceae.
Turnera subulata
white alder
This is a clumping plant with prostrate stems. It flowers heavily with two inch flowers throughout the growing season. A flower has a wide band of white around the outer edge, yellow in the middle, and a distinct brown eye. The flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon. It grows well in a well-drained site in full sun. Although it is available in south Florida nurseries, I find little information on its cultivation. It seems best in zone 9b and south.
This plant is hard to find in our region. It is propagated by seeds and summer stem cuttings.
This is an tender perennial in northern zone 9a. In my garden, they die when winter temperatures drop below the mid-20's.
This is a clumping plant with prostrate stems. It flowers heavily with two inch flowers throughout the growing season. A flower has a wide band of white around the outer edge, yellow in the middle, and a distinct brown eye. The flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon. It grows well in a well-drained site in full sun. Although it is available in south Florida nurseries, I find little information on its cultivation. It seems best in zone 9b and south.
This plant is hard to find in our region. It is propagated by seeds and summer stem cuttings.
This is an tender perennial in northern zone 9a. In my garden, they die when winter temperatures drop below the mid-20's.
Turnera ulmifolia
Jamaican buttercup, yellow alder
This is a bushy perennial that can serve well as a summer annual where it is not reliably cold hardy. It grows to about two feet tall. It has dark green foliage and an abundance of showy, two-inch wide yellow flowers. Where it is cold hardy, it may produce a lot of seedling volunteers. It grows well in a well-drained soil in sun. It is heat and drought tolerant but grows and flowers better with some moisture. It is recommended by some references for zone 9 and south but it is not reliably cold hardy in upper zone 9.
Plants may be found in local nurseries and tropical plant catalogs. It is propagated by seeds and summer stem cuttings.
My plants' leaves are killed by freezing temperatures. They have survived as perennials during winters with lows in the mid-20's F but died after lows in the lower 20's. Where they are evergreen, they flower almost year-round. When and where they die to the ground, they do not start flowering until summer. Seeds may sprout next spring after a winter low in the mid-20's.
This is a bushy perennial that can serve well as a summer annual where it is not reliably cold hardy. It grows to about two feet tall. It has dark green foliage and an abundance of showy, two-inch wide yellow flowers. Where it is cold hardy, it may produce a lot of seedling volunteers. It grows well in a well-drained soil in sun. It is heat and drought tolerant but grows and flowers better with some moisture. It is recommended by some references for zone 9 and south but it is not reliably cold hardy in upper zone 9.
Plants may be found in local nurseries and tropical plant catalogs. It is propagated by seeds and summer stem cuttings.
My plants' leaves are killed by freezing temperatures. They have survived as perennials during winters with lows in the mid-20's F but died after lows in the lower 20's. Where they are evergreen, they flower almost year-round. When and where they die to the ground, they do not start flowering until summer. Seeds may sprout next spring after a winter low in the mid-20's.
Features
Big yellow blooms last only a day but are produced all season long. The flowers sparkle against the plant’s deep green foliage. Nice shrub-like habit that looks great in mixed borders or foundation plantings. Grows well in containers and can be brought indoors for the winter in cold climates
Uses
Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Looks great in rock gardens. Perfect for all kinds of containers. Wonderful for combination plantings.
![Buttercup Buttercup](/uploads/1/3/4/8/134820182/220549541.jpg)
Plant Feed
Fertilize regularly for best display.
Watering
Water thoroughly but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Soil
Best in fertile, well-drained soil.
Basic Care Summary
A heat tolerant selection, but performs best if kept watered during dry spells. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil. Trim back as needed.
Planting Instructions
Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated starter fertilizer or a balanced all-purpose feed (for example fertilizers labeled 12-12-12).
Check the plant label for suggested spacing. Crowding plants can result in fewer blooms and weak growth as the plants compete for light. Exceptions to this might be regions with a short growing season, shade plantings which tend to grow slower and fill in less quickly, or a need to fill an area with color quickly such as for a special event or if planning to entertain guests outdoors.
Remove the plant from the container. If plants are in a pack, gently squeeze the outside of the individual plant cell while tipping container to the side. If plant doesn't loosen, continue pressing on the outside of the container while gently grasping the base of the plant and tugging carefully so as not to crush or break the stem until the plant is released. If the plant is in a pot, brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake the roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Push the soil gently around the roots filling in empty space around the root ball. Firm the soil down around the plant by hand, tamping with the flat side of a small trowel, or even by pressing down on the soil by foot. The soil covering the planting hole should be even with the surrounding soil, or up to one inch higher than the top of the root ball. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks to get them well established.
Vining annuals require vertical space to grow, so provide a trellis, fence, wall or other structure that allows the plant to grow freely and spread.
Check the plant label for suggested spacing. Crowding plants can result in fewer blooms and weak growth as the plants compete for light. Exceptions to this might be regions with a short growing season, shade plantings which tend to grow slower and fill in less quickly, or a need to fill an area with color quickly such as for a special event or if planning to entertain guests outdoors.
Remove the plant from the container. If plants are in a pack, gently squeeze the outside of the individual plant cell while tipping container to the side. If plant doesn't loosen, continue pressing on the outside of the container while gently grasping the base of the plant and tugging carefully so as not to crush or break the stem until the plant is released. If the plant is in a pot, brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake the roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Push the soil gently around the roots filling in empty space around the root ball. Firm the soil down around the plant by hand, tamping with the flat side of a small trowel, or even by pressing down on the soil by foot. The soil covering the planting hole should be even with the surrounding soil, or up to one inch higher than the top of the root ball. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks to get them well established.
Vining annuals require vertical space to grow, so provide a trellis, fence, wall or other structure that allows the plant to grow freely and spread.
Turnera Buttercup Yellow
Watering Instructions
New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks. After that, depending on the weather and soil type, watering can be adjusted to every two or three days. Clay soils hold moisture longer than sandy soils, so expect to water more frequently in sandy settings.
Different plants have different water needs. Some plants prefer staying on the dry side, others like to be consistently moist. Refer to the plant label to check a plant’s specific requirements.
Ideally water should only be applied to the root zone - an area roughly 6-12” (15-30cm) from the base of the plant, not the entire plant. A soaker hose is a great investment for keeping plants healthy and reducing water lost through evaporation. Hand watering using a watering wand with a sprinkler head attached is also a good way to control watering. If the garden area is large, and a sprinkler is necessary, try to water in the morning so that plant foliage has time to dry through the day. Moist foliage encourages disease and mold that can weaken or damage plants.
To check for soil moisture use your finger or a small trowel to dig in and examine the soil. If the first 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, it is time to water.
Different plants have different water needs. Some plants prefer staying on the dry side, others like to be consistently moist. Refer to the plant label to check a plant’s specific requirements.
Ideally water should only be applied to the root zone - an area roughly 6-12” (15-30cm) from the base of the plant, not the entire plant. A soaker hose is a great investment for keeping plants healthy and reducing water lost through evaporation. Hand watering using a watering wand with a sprinkler head attached is also a good way to control watering. If the garden area is large, and a sprinkler is necessary, try to water in the morning so that plant foliage has time to dry through the day. Moist foliage encourages disease and mold that can weaken or damage plants.
To check for soil moisture use your finger or a small trowel to dig in and examine the soil. If the first 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, it is time to water.
Fertilizing Instructions
![Buttercup Buttercup](/uploads/1/3/4/8/134820182/941066519.jpg)
Fertilizers are available in many forms: granulated, slow-release, liquid feeds, organic or synthetic. Determine which application method is best for the situation and select a product with a nutritional balance designed to encourage blooming (such as 5-10-5).
Too much fertilizer can actually damage plants so it’s important to follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed plants.
Too much fertilizer can actually damage plants so it’s important to follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed plants.
Pruning Instructions
Turnera Buttercup Flower
Prune plants freely to maintain the desired size and shape. Pinching plants back stimulates dense, bushy new growth and encourages more flowers.
Remove old flowers to keep plant looking healthy and prevent seed production that drains the plant’s energy at the expense of forming new flowers.
Some plants are grown only for their attractive foliage (such as coleus, dusty miller and flowering kale). Their flowers are not very showy and any buds should be pinched off to keep the foliage looking its best.
Remove old flowers to keep plant looking healthy and prevent seed production that drains the plant’s energy at the expense of forming new flowers.
Some plants are grown only for their attractive foliage (such as coleus, dusty miller and flowering kale). Their flowers are not very showy and any buds should be pinched off to keep the foliage looking its best.
Turnera Buttercup Yellow
Category: | Annual |
Available Colors: | Yellow |
Bloom Time: | Spring to autumn |
Height Range: | 24-36' (61-91cm) |
Space Range: | 18-24' (46-61cm) |
Lowest Temperature: | 20° to 30°F (-7° to -1°C) |
Plant Light: | Part Shade |
Companion Plants: | Mexican Heather, Lantana, Coleus |
USDA Zone: | 9-11 |