Golden groundsel

Golden groundsel: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad clump 90–120 cm tall in flower and 60–90 cm wide.

Leaves

Round to kidney-shaped, up to 30 cm across, toothed edge, on long stalks; purple-brown underneath in some cultivars.

Flower

Daisy-like flower heads of 7–10 cm in loose clusters, from July to September.

Colour

Orange-yellow with a brown centre.

Roots

A thick, fleshy rootstock with many roots; the clump widens slowly.

Flowering: July–September · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: March and September

Why grow it?

• Large, striking leaves that give a shady border structure all summer.
• Warm, orange-yellow flowers from July to September, when many shade plants have finished.
• One of the best plants for wet soil, beside a pond or stream.
• Bees visit the flowers.
• Dark-leaved cultivars give a lovely colour contrast.

Golden groundsel: where does it grow best?

• Partial shade to shade, preferably without midday sun: in sun the leaves go limp.
• Rich loam, clay or peaty soil, acid to neutral.
• Wet to constantly moist: the soil must never dry out. Ideal at a pond edge.
• Sheltered from strong wind, which damages the large leaves. Plant 75–90 cm apart.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Loam, clay or peat

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Wet

Size

1 m tall, 0.8 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Hosta: Large leaves of a different shape and colour, in the same moist, shady spot.
• Royal fern: A tall fern for wet soil, with fine fronds beside the round leaves.
• Astilbe: Pink and red plumes in the same moist partial shade.
• Siberian iris: Narrow, upright leaves and blue flowers at the pond edge.

Golden groundsel: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or September–October, when the soil is not frozen.
2. Dig a generous hole and mix in plenty of compost or leaf mould.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot and firm the soil well.
4. Leave 75–90 cm between plants.
5. Water in straight away with a few cans of water and lay a thick mulch around the base.

Care

Watering

Keep the soil moist at all times. In dry summers water daily if it is not growing beside water.

Feeding

In March, a generous layer of compost or organic fertiliser.

Mulching

A thick layer of compost or leaf mould keeps the soil wet and cool.

Slugs

Protect the young shoots in April–May: slugs love them.

Deadheading

Cut the flower stems off at the base in September, unless you want to see the fluffy seed heads.

Dividing

Every 4–5 years, when the clump gets too big or flowers less.

Tip: Plant it at a pond edge or in a wet corner without midday sun, and protect the young shoots from slugs early in spring.

Golden groundsel: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and September.

When: Cut off the faded flower stems in September. The leaves collapse after the first frost; cut them away in March, before the new shoots appear.

How:

• In September, cut faded flower stems off at the base.
• Leave the dead leaves over winter as protection, or clear them if they attract slugs.
• In March, cut all dead leaves and stems back to just above the ground.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September–October, lift the clump and cut it with a sharp spade into pieces that each have a few buds. Replant straight away and water well.

Splitting off

Without lifting the whole plant, cut a rooted piece from the edge and replant it elsewhere.

Golden groundsel: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection needed in Belgium.
• The top growth dies after the first frost; in spring the plant reshoots.
• In a large pot: stand it against a wall and never let the compost dry out.

Diseases and pests

• Slugs: Holes in young leaves and vanished shoots in spring. Pick them off in the evening, set beer traps and protect the shoots early.
• Drooping leaves: On warm afternoons the leaves go limp. If they have not recovered by evening, water well or move the plant to more shade.
• Scorched leaves: Brown edges and patches caused by sun or strong wind. Choose a sheltered spot without midday sun.
• Few flowers: Shade that is too deep or soil that is too dry. More moisture and a little morning sun help.

Through the year

• March: Cut away dead leaves. Add compost. Plant or divide.
• April: Planting. Protect young shoots from slugs.
• May: Mulch. Watch for slugs.
• June: Water generously in dry spells.
• July: Flowering begins. Keep the soil wet.
• August: Full flower. Water daily in dry spells.
• September: End of flowering. Cut off flower stems. Planting.
• October: Plant or divide.
• November: The leaves collapse after frost.
• December: Rest.

Edible and useful

Not edible. These plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, like the common ragwort along the roadsides: they damage the liver, even in small amounts taken in over a long time, and the damage is permanent. Horses and cattle are the most sensitive, also to dried plants in hay or silage, because they can no longer taste them: do not plant them in or beside a field, never throw mowings or trimmings near the feed, and do not cut them with grass for hay. Never make teas or herbal remedies from them, not even from hemp agrimony, which was once a medicinal herb. Keep children, dogs and cats away from the plant and wear gloves when cutting back. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name Ligularia comes from the Latin ligula, ‘little tongue’, after the strap-shaped ray florets.
• On warm afternoons the leaves sometimes go limp, even in wet soil: they are losing more water than the roots can take up. By evening they stand up again.
• The cultivars ‘Desdemona’ and ‘Othello’ are named after characters in Shakespeare’s play Othello.