This cultivar is a hybrid of two unnamed seedlings and it was registered by Paul Aden of New York in 1974. It forms a medium size mound 13 inches high by 29 inches wide of heart-shaped, chartreuse to bright gold leaves. The foliage is slightly wavy, cupped, slightly corrugated with average substance. It produces pale lavender flowers.

According to The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "At maturity, it may be difficult to distinguish 'Gold Cadet' from 'Gold Drop', 'Gold Edger', and a few others. All become dense, rounded mounds of gold foliage."