How to Grow Golden Lace
Patrinia scabiosifolia
Golden Lace is a tall, airy perennial producing clouds of tiny bright yellow flowers on wiry branching stems in late summer and autumn. It is a staple of naturalistic and prairie planting, weaving between other plants and providing a luminous haze of colour when few other perennials are at their best. Fully hardy, easy to grow in most well-drained soils, and an excellent late-season companion for grasses, rudbeckias, and asters. Self-seeds gently without becoming invasive.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Spring with a balanced fertiliser or compost mulch. Avoid over-feeding which produces lush growth and weak stems.
Watch For
- Powdery mildew in dry conditions
- Stem floppiness in rich or shaded conditions
Companions
Rudbeckia, Miscanthus, Echinacea, Aster
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun preferred
Best in full sun. Tolerates partial shade but stems become lax and flowering is reduced. Avoid deep shade.
Watering
Drought tolerant once established
Tolerates dry conditions well once established. Water during the first growing season to establish. Well-drained soil is essential.
Fertilizing
Minimal feeding; avoid rich soil
Poor to average soil suits Patrinia well. Rich feeding causes lax, floppy stems. A light compost mulch in spring is sufficient.
Pruning
Cut back in late autumn after flowering
Leave seed heads for birds and self-seeding if desired, then cut all stems to the ground in late autumn or early winter.
Growing Tips
Late-season luminosity
Patrinia flowers in late summer and autumn when borders start to fade. Plant it where it can weave between grasses and later-flowering perennials for maximum impact.
Self-seeds gently
Golden Lace self-seeds without becoming a nuisance. Allow a few seedlings to establish nearby, or deadhead after flowering to prevent seeding.
Staking in exposed sites
In windy or exposed positions the tall stems may need light staking. In sheltered borders they are usually self-supporting.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 60 cm |
| Row spacing | 60 cm |
| Mature height | 130 cm |
| Mature spread | 60 cm |
Tall airy perennial for naturalistic and prairie planting. Self-seeds gently. Clump-forming; divide every 3-4 years to maintain vigour.
