Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) Grow & Care Guide

Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) is the most punctual flower in the world. Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) came from as far away as South America. There are many kinds of clock flower, the common ones are yellow clock flower and white clock flower. The clock blooms on time because it has a biological clock, which is a genetic trait controlled by genes and has evolved over time to adapt to environmental changes. Actually, plants, animals and people all have biological clocks.

How to Grow Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder)

Turnera Ulmifolia Propagation with Seeds

For propagating Turnera Ulmifolia through seeds:

• Let the pods ripen and turn pale brown and then collect the seeds anytime from late summer to fall.
• Air-dry the seeds at room temperature and then store.
• Sow the dried seeds after the end of the winter season in loose and moist fine soil as this ensures quick germination.
• Make sure the soil is moist, but not soggy.

Turnera Ulmifolia Propagation with Stem Cuttings

Turnera Ulmifolia Cuttings can take root at any time of year and easily take root in water or wet sand. When new growth occurs, it should be divided in the spring. Space plants, separated by several feet, form ground coverings in one season. To thicken plants, cut the stems back when they become leggy and force new branches closer to the ground. To be used as a low maintenance plant, consider positioning turnera ulmifolia alone as a focal point in a shrub boundary or ground cover to show its natural open habit. It will display its bright yellow flowers on the outer edge of the plant without needing pruning. Alder seedlings often germinate near plants and can become weeds in the landscape.

How to Care for Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder)

Turnera Ulmifolia Lighting

Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) likes sunny environment, without sunlight, it is not easy to grow, resulting in a reduction in flowering.

Turnera Ulmifolia Soil Care

While turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) is a hardy plant and can grow in almost all types of soil, it prefers organically rich, moderately moist, and well-drained soil.

Turnera Ulmifolia Watering

Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) 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.
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.

Turnera Ulmifolia Temperature & Humidity Care

The yellow elder thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 8-10. During winter, the plant will die back, and roots are cold resistant only down to USDA 7. Clock flower is not strict to the temperature requirements, adapt to a large range. It can be grown in the environment of 15-30℃. Although be in the area with obvious change of four seasons temperature, put indoor also unapt freeze to death, nevertheless, its optimum growth temperature is 20-25℃. In the cold area when raising, before the winter home to control watering, put in the outdoor first, fully accept the exercise of cold climate at the end of autumn, enhance the ability of Turnera Ulmifolia plants to fight cold, winter to lay a good foundation. From the cultivation of the actual point of view, winter can endure a short time of 0℃ low temperature, but should be to 6-12℃ cold winter best.

Turnera Ulmifolia Fertilizer

Scatter 1/2 cup of slow-release 10-10-10 granular fertilizer evenly around the plant in early spring, starting six inches from its base and extending out two to three times the length of the branches. Do not let fertilizer touch the foliage as it could burn the plant. Water Turnera Ulmifolia over the fertilizer to help settle it into the ground. Apply another round of fertilizer of the same strength in mid-summer. In the plant's first year, wait until it starts growing vigorously before fertilizing once in summer.

Turnera Ulmifolia Pruning

Prune Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) 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.

Turnera Ulmifolia Pests & Diseases Care

Watch for leafminers, which can burrow and eat holes in the Turnera Ulmifolia leaves. turnera buttercup has few disease or pest problems, but this is one of them. Prune off damaged leaves as you see them. In most cases these outbreaks are short-lived and only cause cosmetic damage because of the many natural predators of leafminers. Insecticides are not all that effective as they also kill the predators.

Turnera Ulmifolia (Yellow Alder) FAQ

Is Turnera Ulmifolia edible?

Fruit from several species in Bourreria genus are reported as edible. The Turnera Ulmifolia is no exception but they taste on the soapy side. A tea can be made from its bark. The sweet smelling flowers last through the summer and pea-size berries are red by October and persist on the tree.

Can you smoke Turnera Ulmifolia?

It can be distinguished from the rich green Turnera ulmifolia on the basis of the greenish blue color of its leaves and its distinctly smaller flowers. The dried herbage can be prepared as a tea or an alcohol extract, smoked, or burned as incense.