Flame Acanthus 'Benny's Gold' (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)

Flame Acanthus ‘Benny’s Gold’

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii ‘Benny’s Gold’

Other Common Names: Benny’s Gold Flame Acanthus, Wright’s Desert Honeysuckle

Top Pick: A golden-yellow flowering cultivar of Texas-native Flame Acanthus that combines exceptional heat tolerance with a long season of flowers for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Quick Plant Info

• ☀️ Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• 💧 Water: Low
• 🌿 Type: Perennial Shrub
• 📏 Mature Size: Approximately 2–4 ft tall × 3–5 ft wide

Description

A golden twist on one of Texas's toughest hummingbird shrubs.

‘Benny’s Gold’ is a selected cultivar of Texas-native Flame Acanthus, distinguished by its golden-yellow tubular flowers rather than the orange-red flowers typical of the species.

The flowers appear through the heat of summer and into fall, often producing renewed flushes after rainfall. Their tubular shape makes them especially attractive to hummingbirds, while butterflies and other pollinators also visit the blooms.

Its compact size, exceptional heat tolerance, and long flowering season make ‘Benny’s Gold’ equally useful in wildlife gardens and more deliberately designed landscapes.

💛 Why it works

• Unusual golden-yellow flowers
• Long summer-to-fall bloom season
• Excellent hummingbird plant
• Supports butterflies and other pollinators
• Native caterpillar host
• Exceptional heat and drought tolerance
• Compact enough for borders and smaller landscapes
• Excellent for xeriscapes and designed native gardens

🦋 Wildlife value

Flame Acanthus provides nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other flower-visiting insects. The species is also a larval host for native butterflies, including the Texan Crescent.

Those caterpillars add another food-web connection, providing insect biomass that can ultimately support birds and other wildlife.

🌱 Where it thrives

‘Benny’s Gold’ performs best in full sun, where flowering is typically strongest, but it can also tolerate some part shade.

It is highly adapted to heat, alkaline soils, and dry conditions once established.

• Hummingbird gardens
• Pollinator gardens
• Sunny borders
• Xeriscapes
• Rock gardens
• Designed native landscapes

Soil: Adaptable to a range of well-drained soils, including clay, limestone, rocky, sandy, and alkaline soils. Avoid locations that remain consistently wet.

✂️ Growth & maintenance

Flame Acanthus may lose its aboveground stems during hard North Texas freezes and return from the roots in spring. Once new growth begins, remove winter-damaged stems as needed.

Plants can also be lightly pruned to encourage a fuller, more compact shape. Avoid excessive fertilizer, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

💧 Water (establishment note)

Water regularly during establishment, allowing the soil to dry somewhat between waterings. Once established, ‘Benny’s Gold’ is highly drought tolerant and generally requires little supplemental irrigation.

Pickup Information

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