Golden Speargrass Plant Care
Aciphylla aurea W.R.B.Oliv.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Aciphylla aurea, known as taramea in Māori and golden speargrass or golden Spaniard in New Zealand English, is a large, spiky, tufted plant with sharp yellowish-green leaves in the speargrass genus Aciphylla. A.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–75°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Golden Speargrass?
Water Golden Speargrass every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Golden Speargrass?
Golden Speargrass (Aciphylla aurea) belongs to the Apiaceae family within the Aciphylla genus. Golden Speargrass is also known as Golden Spaniard.
Golden Speargrass displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Golden Speargrass produces small white or greenish flowers in dense clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Golden Speargrass?
Aciphylla aurea requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Golden Speargrass Need?
Golden Speargrass thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Golden Speargrass Prefer?
Aciphylla aurea grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Golden Speargrass prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Golden Speargrass?
Well-draining sandy soil with good organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Golden Speargrass to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Golden Speargrass?
Feed Golden Speargrass every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Golden Speargrass?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Golden Speargrass?
Golden Speargrass can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to mount cook speargrass plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Golden Speargrass Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Golden Speargrass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Golden Speargrass?
Golden Speargrass is susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, slugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Golden Speargrass Need?
Golden Speargrass grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Golden Speargrass as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Golden Speargrass is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Aciphylla genus — compare its care with other Aciphylla species on PlantoScan.
Aciphylla is part of the Apiaceae plant family — browse all Apiaceae genera and species.
Golden Speargrass thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Aciphylla Species
Other Aciphylla species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Aciphylla aurea W.R.B.Oliv., family Apiaceae (first published in Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 84: 15 (1956)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Golden Speargrass, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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