Lotus Bertheloti 'Gold Flash'

Parrot's Beak 'Gold Flash'

Botanical Name: Lotus berthelotii ‘Gold Flash’
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: Canary Islands
Plant Type: Evergreen trailing perennial

Overview

Lotus berthelotii ‘Gold Flash’ is a striking, sun-loving groundcover with fine, silvery foliage and spectacular golden-yellow to orange-red flowers through spring and summer. Perfect for South Australian conditions, it thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and coastal gardens where heat, wind, and low water are the norm. Ideal for rockeries, hanging baskets, retaining walls, or spilling over garden edges, it brings vibrant, tropical-style colour to dry, sunny spaces.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.1–0.2 m H × 0.8–1.2 m W (spread)
• Growth Rate: 20-40 (spread) cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine, silvery-grey leaves that shimmer in sunlight; may develop bronze or red tints in cold weather or intense sun
• Flowers: Brilliant golden-yellow flowers with orange highlights, shaped like a parrot’s beak; appear spring through summer
  
• Seasonal Interest: Long flowering season; striking foliage colour through all seasons
• Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies, and nectar-feeding insects
• Tolerance: Drought-, heat-, wind-, and coastal-tolerant once established; tolerates light frost (protect from severe frost)
• Planting Density: 3–4 plants per m² for full cover or dense spillover effect
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic to cats and dogs

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun is essential for best flowering and compact growth; tolerates light or filtered shade in extremely hot inland gardens
• Soil: Free-draining sandy or gravelly soils; ideal for coastal or raised beds; avoid clay or waterlogged conditions
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–10 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; monthly or less in cooler months
• Maintenance: Low maintenance – trim lightly after flowering to encourage dense growth and prevent legginess; avoid rich or wet soils
• Lifespan: 5–8 years under ideal conditions (often used as a long-lived perennial groundcover)
• Climate Zones: Mediterranean and temperate – ideal for Adelaide, Fleurieu Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, and coastal SA
• Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline, tolerates slightly acidic soils

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Path & Edge Plantings: Excellent as a spiller plant along paths, steps, or driveways where its silvery foliage catches the light.
• Coastal Gardens: Superb for beachside and coastal slopes, thriving in wind and salt spray while adding golden colour and silver texture.
• Mixed Plantings: Pairs beautifully with Leucophyta ‘Silver Nugget’, Euphorbia ‘Silver Swan’, and Lomandra ‘Lime Tuff’ for contrasting form and texture.
• Rockeries & Retaining Walls: Use to soften stonework or cascade over raised garden beds and retaining walls.

Why You Will Love It

‘Gold Flash’ lights up hot, dry Adelaide gardens with its brilliant golden blooms and shimmering silver foliage. It’s easy-care, eye-catching, and thrives in the very conditions that challenge most plants — perfect for sunny courtyards, coastal gardens, and modern low-water landscapes.