Yellow Alder

Description:

A favorite flower of butterflies, wasp moths, and bees; and a favorite hunting ground of the yellow crab spider preying on these pollinators. Turnera ulmifolia, called the Yellow Buttercup, Yellow Alder, Sage Rose, is a species of plant of family Passifloraceae, native to Mexico and the West Indies. Many stems originate close to the ground but they branch infrequently forming an open, leggy plant. Those in the full sun branch more and stay fuller than those in partial shade. Clear yellow flowers are produced daily, each lasting several hours before closing at night. New flowers open the next morning. Leaves stay dark green with little or no fertilizer. A recent study found that yellow alder potentiated the antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Habitat:

Backyard garden.

Notes:

Reference: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp593.