
Shade (and sun) gardeners – stop. Do you want a plant that MAKES the back of the border? Try Ligularia. Large ltriangular eaves with showy yellow flowers. Definitely makes an impact in the perennial garden. It is a ‘moisture loving’ plant. Especially good for wetter spots and behind a water features and does well in part sun part shade.
One of the most popular varieties of Ligularia is ‘The Rocket’. Reaching a height of 2′ or more – it’s decorative foliage will tower over your other plants. It will blossom in mid to late summer. Drawbacks – the slugs like Ligularia so you should watch for them.. My Ligularia haven’t shown slug damage this season – but I have also applied an application of “Sluggo” around my hosta and other perennials.
A smaller variety is ‘Bottle Rocket’ and another with darker purple/green foliage is Britt Marie Crawford. I have three in my hosta gardens – one in the center with hosta all around, one on the edge of a hosta garden with hydrangeas and the other is on the edge of a berm with rudbeckia, a Blue Beech and of course – more hosta.