Globeflower

Globeflower: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Compact clump 50–60 cm tall and about 40 cm wide, with upright flower stems above a ring of leaves.

Leaves

Hand-shaped, deeply cut into five toothed segments; glossy dark green.

Flower

Globe-shaped, 3–5 cm, formed by about ten incurved sepals; the true petals are small nectar-bearing strips inside.

Colour

Lemon to pale yellow, with a soft sheen.

Roots

A short rhizome with many fibrous roots that constantly need moisture.

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

Why grow it?

• Bright lemon-yellow globes in May and June that catch the eye at once.
• One of the few flowering plants that truly loves wet soil: ideal by a pond or in a bog garden.
• Fully hardy and long-lived in the right spot.
• Bees and small flies crawl into the rounded flowers in search of pollen and nectar.
• The glossy, deeply cut leaves stay attractive after flowering, as long as the soil stays moist.

Globeflower: where does it grow best?

• Sun to partial shade: in sun only if the soil stays wet; it also flowers well in partial shade.
• Loam, clay or peaty soil rich in humus; acid to chalky.
• Wet to constantly moist soil: a pond edge, a bog garden or a damp meadow.
• Plant 30–40 cm apart, about seven plants per m²; it looks best in groups of three or more.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Loam, clay or peat

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Wet

Size

0.6 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Siberian iris: Blue flowers at the same time, in the same wet soil.
• Japanese primrose: Tiers of pink or red flowers for a damp spot in partial shade.
• Marsh marigold: Flowers just before in the same yellow, extending the golden display.
• Hosta: Large leaves that clothe the border after flowering.
• Water forget-me-not: Pale blue flowers at the base, also in wet soil.

Globeflower: 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 hole twice as wide as the pot and mix in compost or leaf mould, which holds moisture.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as it was in the pot, with the crown just at soil level.
4. By a pond, plant it on the wet bank, not in the water itself.
5. Water in thoroughly and keep the soil wet for the first few weeks.
6. Mulch with leaf mould to hold in moisture.

Care

Water

Never let the soil dry out, not even in summer after flowering. Water generously in dry spells.

Feeding

In March, a layer of compost or well-rotted manure.

Mulching

A thick layer of leaf mould in spring keeps the soil wet and cool.

Deadheading

Cut off the spent flowers: the plant looks tidier and does not waste energy on seed. A few more flowers sometimes follow later.

Leave alone

Leave it undisturbed: it needs a few years to form a good clump.

Tip: Choose a spot where the soil always stays wet, such as a pond edge or bog garden: it will thrive there for years without fuss. Never let the soil dry out, not even in summer.

Globeflower: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July.

When: Cut off the spent flower stems in July. Clear away last year’s dead leaves in March.

How:

• Cut the faded flower stems back to just above the foliage.
• To collect seed, leave a few stems until the fruits turn brown and split open.
• In March, cut away the old dead leaves before the new shoots appear.
• Wear gloves: the sap can irritate the skin.

Caution: The sap of the fresh plant can irritate the skin. Wear gloves and wash your hands after pruning.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow fresh seed outdoors in September–October in a pot or seed tray. It needs frost to germinate and often only comes up in spring, sometimes even a year later. Seedlings flower after two to three years.

Division

In March–April or September, lift an older clump and cut it with a knife or spade into pieces with a few buds each. Replant straight away and water well.

Globeflower: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• It dies back above ground in autumn and regrows early in spring.
• In a pot or trough: keep the compost moist in winter too and stand the pot in a sheltered spot against a wall.

Diseases and pests

• Drought: Brown leaf edges, few flowers and leaves dying back early. Water, mulch and if necessary move it to a wetter spot.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves, mainly after flowering in dry weather. Keep the soil moist and remove affected leaves.
• Slugs: They eat young leaves and buds in spring. Pick them off in the evening.
• Few flowers: Too dry, too shady or a young plant. Give it a moist, lighter spot and a little patience.

Through the year

• March: Cut away old leaves. Add compost. Plant.
• April: Plant or divide. Watch out for slugs.
• May: Flowering begins.
• June: In flower. Water in dry spells.
• July: Cut off spent flower stems. Keep the soil moist.
• August: Water in dry spells. Collect ripe seed.
• September: Sow fresh seed outdoors. Plant or divide.
• October: Sow and plant.
• November: Rest. The plant has died back above ground.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of globeflower are poisonous, especially when fresh: as in the buttercups its flowers resemble, the sap contains acrid compounds that cause a burning feeling in the mouth, vomiting and stomach ache, and redness and itching on the skin. Do not let children put the flowers in their mouths, and keep dogs and cats away from the plant. Horses, cows and sheep usually leave the fresh plant alone, but never throw trimmings or faded stems into a field or pen, and do not plant it in or beside a field. Wear gloves when cutting back, dividing and cutting flowers for a vase. 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 yellow ‘petals’ are really sepals. The true petals are small, narrow nectar-bearing strips hidden inside the globe.
• Tiny flies of the genus Chiastocheta crawl into the closed flowers, pollinate them and lay their eggs there; their larvae eat some of the seeds. Plant and fly depend on each other.
• In the wild it has declined in many areas because damp hay meadows have been drained and fertilised.