Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii ‘Benny’s Gold’
Common Names include Flame Acanthus Benny’s Gold, Benny Simpson Yellow Hummingbird Bush
Flame Acanthus Benny’s Gold is a hardy, deciduous shrub that can reach heights of up to 5 feet and spread around 4 feet wide. With its spreading appearance, this delightful plant is a cultivar of the Flame Acanthus, native to the extreme south-central region of Texas and nearby northern Mexico, where it thrives on rocky, calcareous slopes and floodplains.
Benny’s Gold showcases slender, brittle stems adorned with attractive, peeling bark and small, lanceolate-shaped leaves that nearly clasp together. It blooms bright yellow-orange tubular flowers, particularly abundantly after rainfall from spring to late summer, drawing in hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Deer tend to steer clear of this plant.
This hardy beauty thrives in medium to dry, well-draining soils under the warm sun. What’s even better is its adaptability; it can flourish in a variety of soil types, including poor, rocky, and even heavy clay. As a drought-tolerant gem, it can also be cultivated in pots, though it may benefit from some regular summer watering. Benny’s Gold does well in zones 7 to 10, and in cooler regions, though it may die back to the roots and reemerge with fresh growth in the spring. While there’s no need for pruning, feel free to shape this lovely plant in the fall, or give it a more significant prune every few years if you wish.
BONAP MAP
Height: 3’-5′ Spread: 3’-4′ Bloom: June-September Light: Full sun-Dappled Shade
