Globeflower

Sun

Full sun in cool climates with reliably moist soil; partial shade where summers are warmer.

Water

Keep the root zone consistently moist throughout growth. Water deeply during dry spells; do not let newly planted clumps dry out.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive loam or clay that stays moist without becoming stagnant. Tolerates acidic, neutral or alkaline soil.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; rounded lemon-yellow flowers with overlapping, petal-like sepals.

Foliage

Green, deeply lobed leaves form a basal clump, with smaller leaves along the flowering stems. Foliage dies back in winter and may decline early in hot, dry summers.

Growth

Moderate; forms a substantial clump over several years.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the UK

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water during dry weather so the root zone never dries out completely.
• Apply compost or well-rotted organic matter in spring.
• Mulch after watering to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide crowded clumps in early spring or early autumn, usually every three to five years.
• In warm regions, provide afternoon shade and avoid sites beside heat-reflecting paving.

Pruning. Remove faded flower stems at their base unless you want seed. Cut dead foliage back to ground level in autumn or late winter; leave healthy green leaves intact.

Late winter

Clear away dead stems and foliage before new shoots emerge.

Early spring

Plant or divide clumps, water thoroughly, and protect emerging shoots from slugs.

Spring

Top-dress with compost and mulch the moist soil.

Late spring

Check soil moisture as flower stems develop, especially during dry weather.

Early summer

Remove spent flower stems, or leave a few to ripen if collecting seed.

Early autumn

Divide established clumps if needed, allowing time for roots to establish before winter.

• Plant in groups along a pond margin, above the permanently submerged zone.
• Combine with ferns and hostas in a damp, lightly shaded border for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Use among moisture-loving irises and astilbes to extend flowering from spring into summer.
• Repeat small groups through a cool cottage border for rounded yellow flowers above soft green foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Bog garden, Woodland, Romantic rose garden and New perennial (prairie).

Plant it with: Siberian iris, Astilbe, Hosta, Lady fern, Candelabra primrose and Meadowsweet.

Wildlife: Flowers support small pollinating insects, including flies; specialist globeflower flies are important pollinators in parts of its native European range. Its tightly enclosed flowers are less accessible than open, daisy-like blooms.

• Slugs and snails can eat emerging shoots; inspect at dusk, remove hiding places nearby, and use approved iron-phosphate bait if needed.
• Dry soil causes wilting, scorched leaves and early dormancy; water deeply and replenish mulch.
• Prolonged summer heat can cause poor flowering and early dieback; provide afternoon shade, though the plant may remain unsuitable for hot climates.
• Powdery mildew may affect crowded or stressed plants; improve spacing, keep roots moist and remove badly affected foliage.

All parts, particularly fresh leaves and stems, contain irritant compounds and should be treated as toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. Chewing can cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea; larger amounts may cause serious illness. Sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when cutting or dividing.

• Chinese globeflower (Trollius chinensis)

  Usually has more open, orange to golden-orange flowers with conspicuous upright, narrow petals projecting from the centre; European globeflower has a more tightly closed yellow globe.

• Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)

  Has open, shiny yellow flowers and broad, rounded or kidney-shaped leaves rather than deeply divided foliage.

• Meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

  Has much smaller, open, five-petalled yellow flowers rather than enclosed globes.

Globeflower refers to the rounded flowers, while the species name europaeus means European.

Propagation. Divide clumps in early spring or early autumn and replant promptly into moist soil. Seed is slow and uneven to germinate and usually benefits from a period of cold; sow fresh seed in pots outdoors and allow at least a year before discarding an apparently empty pot.

Accepted botanical name

Trollius europaeus

Native range

Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France and Germany.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 30 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.