Axilflower (Mecardonia 'USMECA67' GOLDFLAKE)
Discover Axilflower (Mecardonia 'USMECA67' GOLDFLAKE), a low-maintenance, trailing plant perfect for ground cover or containers, featuring prolific yellow blooms.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE, widely known as Axilflower, is an exceptional choice for gardeners seeking relentless summer color without significant horticultural effort. This specific cultivar is valued for its low-growing, free-branching, trailing habit, which blankets the ground or cascades beautifully from elevated planters. It delivers continuous, bright yellow blooms from late spring well into autumn.
As a result of specific breeding in the early 2000s, this plant provides dense coverage, rapidly spreading up to 12 inches wide while maintaining a diminutive height of only 4 inches. The copious, bell-shaped yellow flowers contrast nicely against the small, rounded green leaves, making Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE a versatile and visually appealing bedding plant.
Though technically a herbaceous perennial hardy in warmer climates, most gardeners treat this Axilflower as a vibrant annual, appreciating its low maintenance needs. Achieving the best results requires consistent moisture and fertile, well-drained soil positioned in full sun.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: May to September
- Bloom Description: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Axilflower should occur after all danger of frost has passed if treating it as an annual. Ensure the site receives full sun, though the plants can tolerate light shade, especially during the hottest afternoon hours. Best performance is achieved in fertile, moist, well-drained soils; avoid poor drainage, which can lead to cultural issues.
Consistent moisture is key for Axilflower. These trailing stems appreciate regular watering, and the soil should never be allowed to fully dry out. While the maintenance level is generally low, deadheading is typically unnecessary as the plant continues to produce new flowers reliably until frost.
For perennial winterizing in Zones 9-11, ensure superb drainage. Container plants can be pruned back and moved indoors before the first frost date to overwinter in a bright area inside, offering a head start on the next season. Trailing stems of Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE possess the helpful trait of rooting at the nodes, aiding in quick ground coverage.
Landscape Uses
Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE excels wherever a tight, colorful mat of foliage and flowers is desired. It performs admirably as an annual groundcover, quickly filling in spaces between hardscaping or larger perennials. Its trailing nature makes it an ideal spilling element for window boxes and hanging baskets, softening hard edges.
For formal landscapes, use the Axilflower as a bright edging element along beds or borders, creating a low, cheerful ribbon of yellow that guides the eye. It integrates well into rock gardens, where its texture complements the surrounding stone, or used in mass plantings for high-impact seasonal color.
Complement the low stature of this Axilflower with taller, contrasting textures, such as upright salvias or dahlias, ensuring its delicate, continuous bloom isn’t overshadowed. For container designs, pair the trailing Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE with upright thriller plants and filler textures.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Mecardonia, commonly called axilflower, is a genus of about 12 species of herbaceous plants native to western South America north through Central America to the southeastern United States. ‘USMECA67’, sold under the trade name of GOLDFLAKE, is a low-growing, free-branching, trailing annual that typically grows to 4” tall but spreads to 6-12” wide. It is the result of a cross between an unidentified selection of M. Caespitosa (female parent) and M. Dianthera (male parent) in a controlled breeding program that took place in 1999-2000. Solitary, axillary, bell-shaped, yellow flowers (5/8” across) bloom profusely just above the foliage from spring to frost on branching stems clad with rounded, serrate, elliptic, green leaves (to 3/4” long). U.S. Plant Patent PP15,777 was issued on May 31, 2003.
Tolerances
No specific tolerances were provided.
Potential Problems
This plant generally remains free from serious insect or disease problems, which contributes significantly to its low maintenance rating. The primary cultural concern revolves around improper watering or drainage. Root rot may occur if the soil remains overly saturated or if the planting site lacks adequate drainage, especially when used as a perennial in marginal zones. Ensure planting beds are amended well to promote aeration and swift water movement away from the root zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Axilflower suitable for?
Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE is winter hardy in USDA Zones 9 through 11, but it is often grown as a reliable annual in cooler regions north of Zone 9.
How large does Axilflower grow?
This trailing plant typically reaches a short height of 0.25 to 0.5 feet tall, spreading horizontally to cover an area between 0.5 and 1 foot wide.
When does Axilflower bloom?
This variety of Axilflower boasts prolific blooming from May all the way through September, displaying attractive yellow flowers throughout the growing season.
What sun exposure does Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE need?
For the most profuse flowering and best growth habit, Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE requires full sun exposure, though it can tolerate brief periods of light shade.
Conclusion
The rich, continuous yellow color provided by Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE makes it an outstanding, low-fuss addition to summer landscapes, particularly where cascading or ground-hugging texture is needed. This Axilflower truly shines in containers and borders across its suggested growing zones. Before planting, confirm that your local conditions meet its needs for medium water and well-drained soil to enjoy its season-long performance.
Propagation Tips
Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE is easily multiplied through vegetative cuttings, a technique that maintains the specific characteristics of the parent plant. Because the trailing stems will establish roots where they touch moist soil, collecting cuttings is simple. Take 2 to 3-inch stem tips just below a leaf node, remove the lower leaves, and place them in moist potting mix or water.
Roots usually form quickly, allowing these new plants to be established in the main garden or pots before the end of the season. This method is highly effective for increasing your stock for the following year, especially if you plan to overwinter protected specimens indoors.
Companion Planting
Due to its spreading habit and medium water needs, Axilflower pairs wonderfully with moderate-feeding, sun-loving annuals and perennials. Combine it with plants that appreciate consistent moisture but require good drainage, such as calibrachoa or petunias in hanging baskets.
In the ground, use Mecardonia ‘USMECA67’ GOLDFLAKE to soften the base of taller, upright specimen plants like ornamental grasses or columnar shrubs. Its bright yellow hue offers excellent contrast when planted near deep purple or dark green foliage, creating vibrancy near borders or pathways.
