Golden Eldorado, which often is just referred to by its scientific name, is a common shrub through out the Pacific islands. In my mind it it always associated with Samoa where the children usually have Golden Eldorado flowers included in their small bouquets that they carry to school to decorate their classrooms. The shrub is probably native to the Melanesian islands of the western Pacific but it is such an easy and attractive shrub that it has now been taken up by the tropical zones around the world.
The Golden Eldorado is very popular for hedges. Although it can grow up to 10 ft. or so, it is an easy shrub to prune and shape and will even tolerate a very hard prune. Actually, if left untrimmed, the center of the bush gets rather woody so a good trim promotes new growth and a more leafy appearance. It likes the sun but will also grow in partial shade, although the leaves will stay more greener than the bright yellows that show up on the new growth in the sun. Golden Eldorado is also a good shrub for growing in beach side towns as it can handle sandy soils and ocean breezes, although I would not be planting it right on the beach edge. The spikes of small white flowers with a purple center are attractive and nice to add to a small jar of flowers in the house. Although it is a tough plant it will look happier with occasional fertilizer and extra water. Remember that it comes from humid, rainy islands.
Propagation is usually done from cuttings. In fact if you are new at plant propagating this is a good shrub to start out on for cuttings as they have a very high chance of rooting for you. Take cuttings from the upper stems that are no longer soft and floppy. Stems that are about the thickness and length of a pencil work well. Always make the cutting about half an inch under the node or joint as this is where the new roots will grow from. The cuttings will easily grow in some loose potting mix and can be transferred out into the garden within a few months. The slugs rather like the new shoots on the cuttings so be on guard for them.
Aloha
Aloha StellaMarina, thank you for such an educational blog, I stumbled upon your site while trying to identify the above plant. I’ve actually taken some cuttings and they’re ready to go in the ground now. I would love to receive your blogs regularly, I’m not very computer savvy how can I do that? I live on big Island and want to create a lovely garden at my new ohana. Mahalo, Nancy
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, I am not very tech savvy either, but I think if you sign up with blogspot.com you get a feed of any blogspot blogs you select to follow. Anyways...I only write about once a month so you do not need to check in too often. :0) Glad to be of help in your garden adventure.
ReplyDeleteAny tips on pruning golden eldorado? Just planted a bunch that were in 3 gallon pots. I would like them to form a dense, leafy hedge. Mahalo!
ReplyDeleteHi Ted.....I guess on a young plant I would be pinching the tips to get it to branch out well. Then the key with hedges is to have the top narrower than the bottom so that the plant gets good sun coverage or you end up with a "helmet hedge". Aloha
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if bees are specifically attracted to this plant? (We're considering it for a hedge around a preschool play area but at another elementary school the principal was concerned over the bees that it attracts.)
ReplyDeleteI have not noticed a lot of bees hanging out on this plant and it seems to be popular as hedging in public spaces.
ReplyDeleteBees like my eldarada plant...I notice they stop by.
DeleteDoes anyone know how long does it take to germinate and mature?
ReplyDeleteI have only known it to be grown from cuttings.
ReplyDeleteIs it toxic to animals (specifically tortoises or dogs)?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I really do not know although I have never heard it called poisonous.
ReplyDeleteI have brown bugs on the branches of my plant. Anyone know what they are and how I get rid of them?
ReplyDelete