Plant care
Gold Dust Alyssumtemperature & humidity
Aurinia saxatilis
More about gold dust alyssum
Ideal temperature for gold dust alyssum
Temperature kills fewer gold dust alyssum plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at -20–30°C (-4–86°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly -20°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Gold Dust Alyssum is comparatively hardy (USDA 3-7, RHS H6). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for gold dust alyssum
Gold Dust Alyssum sits happiest at around Low (30–50% RH) relative humidity. Suited to exposed, sunny, dry positions typical of Mediterranean and rocky European hillsides; humid, still air around the foliage can encourage grey mould after flowering. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Gold Dust Alyssum temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for gold dust alyssum?
Gold Dust Alyssum grows best between -20–30°C (-4–86°F). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can gold dust alyssum tolerate?
Gold Dust Alyssum starts to suffer below roughly -20°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 3-7, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does gold dust alyssum need?
Gold Dust Alyssum prefers about Low (30–50% RH) relative humidity. Suited to exposed, sunny, dry positions typical of Mediterranean and rocky European hillsides; humid, still air around the foliage can encourage grey mould after flowering.
How do I raise humidity for gold dust alyssum?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can gold dust alyssum live outside?
Gold Dust Alyssum is rated for USDA zone 3-7 and RHS hardiness H6. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More gold dust alyssum care
In the UK? Keeping gold dust alyssum warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full gold dust alyssum care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.