Golden blazingstar Plant Care
Mentzelia chrysantha Engelm.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Mentzelia chrysantha is a species of flowering plant in the Loasaceae known by the common names gold blazingstar and golden blazingstar. It is endemic to Colorado in the United States.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–85°F
30–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Golden blazingstar?
Plant Golden blazingstar in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 7–10 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F (10–29°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Golden blazingstar Native To?
What Is the Golden blazingstar?
Golden blazingstar (Mentzelia chrysantha) belongs to the Loasaceae family within the Mentzelia genus. Golden blazingstar is native to Colorado in the United States.
Golden blazingstar displays an upright, branching growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Golden blazingstar produces bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Golden blazingstar?
Water a young or newly planted Golden blazingstar every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Golden blazingstar Need?
Golden blazingstar thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Golden blazingstar Prefer?
Mentzelia chrysantha tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Golden blazingstar prefers humidity levels of 30–60%.
Temperature
50–85°F
Humidity
30–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Golden blazingstar?
Well-draining sandy soil with some organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Golden blazingstar to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Golden blazingstar?
Feed Golden blazingstar every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.
Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
Where Should You Plant a Golden blazingstar?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with some organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Golden blazingstar is suited to USDA Zone 12a.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Golden blazingstar?
Golden blazingstar can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.
Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.
How Do You Prune a Golden blazingstar?
Prune Golden blazingstar while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Golden blazingstar in Winter?
Golden blazingstar is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.
How Do You Propagate a Golden blazingstar?
Golden blazingstar can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to showy stickleaf plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Golden blazingstar Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Golden blazingstar, 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 blazingstar?
Golden blazingstar is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. 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 blazingstar Need?
Golden blazingstar grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Golden blazingstar is native to Colorado in the United States. In cooler regions, grow Golden blazingstar as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Golden blazingstar 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 Mentzelia genus — compare its care with other Mentzelia species on PlantoScan.
Mentzelia is part of the Loasaceae plant family — browse all Loasaceae genera and species.
Golden blazingstar thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Mentzelia Species
Other Mentzelia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Mentzelia chrysantha Engelm., family Loasaceae (first published in Bull. Geol. Geogr. Surv. Territories 2(3): 237. 1876 [6 Jun 1876] ; alt. title: Fl. SW. Colorado 237. 6 Jun 1876) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Golden blazingstar, 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.
