Mr Adam

Ligularia

Ligularia

A family of long lived perennials that seldom need dividing that enjoy moist, shady sites. Do not plant in dry shade under trees with competitive roots. Most Ligularias will grow on wet soil and tolerate flooding. Disease problems dont often occur, though they can be prone to slugs and snails.
The leaves will often wilt in hot sun even if the soil is moist, perking up during evening or nightfall, generally however they prefer a site without afternoon sun.
Propagation is from seed during spring. The seed can be planted into containers then later transplanted out to the garden.

Ligularia dentata ( Bigleaf Ligularia )
A perennial, forming a large clump up to 6.6 x 5 feet ( foliage clump along is 3 x 5 feet ), that is native to China and Japan.
The very attractive, toothed, heart shaped, leaves are red-purple in spring before turning deep green to grayish green. The leathery leaves are up to 24 x 20 inches in size and are borne on either green or reddish stems. The orange-yellow flowers, up to 4 inches across are borne on clusters up to 1 foot across, on tall, sturdy stalks during autumn.
Prefers sun to partial shade from zone 3 to 7 on moist to wet, deep, fertile soil with a deep organic mulch to keep the soil cool. Heat tolerant but may wilt during mid afternoon only to bounce back at night.
Reflected sun, especially against a south or west facing wall could cause severe scorching and stunting of growth.

* photos taken on April 13 2010 in Columbia, MD








* photo taken on May 1 2010 in Columbia, MD


* photo taken on August 24 2010 in Columbia, MD


Britt Marie Crawford
Reaches a maximum size while in bloom of 6.5 x 5 feet. The foliage is large and glossy purple-black and the late summer flowers look like orange daisies. Blooms 2 weeks later than Desdemona. Comes true from seed and grows with extreme vigor.
An excellent plant to create a tropical mood.


* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


Dark Beauty
Deep maroon foliage and intense bright orange flowers.

Desdemona
Reaches a maximum size of 6.5 x 5 feet while in bloom. The huge, round, purple-green leaves ( purple below ) are up to 24 x 20 inches in size. The daisy like flowers are large and orange, up to 5 inches across from August to September on erect stems that are sturdy and do not need staking. Prefers wet soil and coincidentally looks great next to water.
* photos taken on May 2 2012 in Columbia, MD

Othello
Foliage is less intense purple than Britt Marie Crawford

* photo taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum


* photo taken on May 5 2010 in Columbia, MD


Woerlitzer Gold
Reaches up to 4 feet, with purplish foliage and large, yellow flowers.

Ligularia fischeri
Native to South Korea and reaches up to 4 x 3 feet in size with gray green foliage up to 12 x 8 inches. The flowers are orange-yellow and this long lived plant is hardy north to zone 3

Ligularia x hessei Greygnog Gold
Forms an impressive mound, up to 4.2 feet across, of medium green, large, waxy leaves that are up to 12 inches across. The golden-orange flowers up to 4 inches are borne in impressive tall, pyramidal spikes giving the plant an entire height of 6.6 feet.
Hardy zones 3 to 9

Ligularia macrophylla
A handsome, impressive plant reaching up to 6 x 6 feet in size. The large, wide, swordlike, bluish leaves are up to 24 inches in length.
The yellow flowers up to an inch wide are borne in densely crowded panicles.
Hardy north to zone 3 in sun or partial shade.

Ligularia Osiris Cafe Noir
A perennial, reaching up to 3 x 2.5 feet, with deeply-toothed leathery foliage that is deep purplish-black at first, turning to bronze then olive-green with purple veining. The orangish-yellow flowers are borne on purple stems during late summer into early autumn. Hardy zones 4 to 7 Changing foliage color keeps the drama going all season. New growth is dark purple-black, becoming bronze then olive green highlighted with purple veins as the yellow-orange daisy-like flowers emerge on 20 inch purple stems in late summer.

* photo taken on May 17 2012 in Columbia, MD

Ligularia przewalski ( Shavalskis Ligularia )
A spectacular, vigorous perennial for the back of a border or as a specimen plant, that is native to northern China. It can reach up to 7 x 4 feet in size while in bloom.
The large, toothed and lobed, triangular foliage up to 12 x 12 inches, is somewhat shaped like that of a Silver Maple, is luxuriant green above and purplish below.
The stems are purple-black and the golden-yellow flowers are borne in tall spikes up to 3 feet in length from June to September.
Hardy zones 3 to 8, prefers morning sun and moist, fertile soil. The foliage easily wilts in summer if soil dries out.

Ligularia sibirica
Native from France to Siberia to Japan and forming a large clumping reaching up to 6.5 x 6 feet in size. The leaves are cordate and rounded, to 13 x 13 inches. The yellow flowers are up to 2 inches across. Hardy north to zone 3

Ligularia stenocephala
Native to eastern Asia and forming a spectacular plant with a maximum size of 7 x 5 ( rarely over 5 ) feet. The foliage is triangular in shape and large, up to 14 x 12 inches with heavily toothed, serrated margins. The leaves are shiny, dark green contrasting with golden yellow flowers, up to 2 + inches across, borne on tall spikes from August to September. The flowers are spectacular and the foliage is great for adding tropical effect to temperate climate landscapes and looks great next to a small pond.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 ( tolerates -40 F ) in partial shade to sun on always moist, fertile, well drained soil.

Bottle Rocket
Very compact and dense, reaching up to 2 x 2.5 feet, with showy, intense deep yellow flowers spikes contrasting well with the bold, serrated, heart-shaped, deep green foliage.

Little Rocket
The dwarf form of The Rocket below, only reaching 3 x 2.5 or very rarely 4 x 3 feet in size. The very deeply toothed, mid green, heart shaped leaves contrasts well with the bright golden flowers from mid to late summer. Hardy zones 2 to 10 in partial sun.

The Rocket
Reaches a maximum size of 7 x 5 feet with coarsely lobed, triangular, deep green foliage up to 14 x 12 inches in size.
It blooms all summer long with golden yellow flowers borne in stiff, spikes up to 2 feet long in late June. Hardy zones 3 to 7 ( even hardy in much of Alberta ) on moist soil in sun or partial shade.
Looks great along a woodland edge or along a stream.

* photos taken on May 5 2010 in Columbia, MD





* photos taken on May 14 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario


Sungold
Has a good bushy habit, reaching up to 5.5 x 5 feet. The golden-orange daisies are borne in branching stems. Hardy zones 4 to 9

Ligularia tussilaginea Gigantea
Forms a foliage clump up to 3 x 3 feet and reaches a height up to 4 feet while in bloom. The thick, glossy, bright green leaves are up to 15 inches wide and borne on stalks up to 2 feet long. The flowers are up to 2 inches across.
The foliage is hardy to 16 F. It dies back to the roots at 0 F but regrows in the spring.

Ligularia veitchiana
Native to western China and reaches a maximum size of 8 x 6 feet while in bloom.
The huge triangular leaves are up to 14 x 24 inches in size.
The orange flowers, up to 3 inches across, are borne on huge spikes up to 30 inches long during mid summer.
Prefers partial shade and moist to wet soil. Hardy zones 4 to 8

Ligularia wilsoniana
Native to China and reaching up to 7 x 6 feet with dark green, sharply serrated, kidney shaped , basal leaves up to 20 inches across. The yellow flowers are borne in tall spikes in mid summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 and likes cool moist conditions.