Summer ragwort
Ligularia dentata · Asteraceae
📷 Bff · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around summer ragwort and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Type
- Perennial herbaceous plant
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- July to September
- Adult size
- 32 to 47 inches tall, 24 to 31 inches wide
- Hardiness
- Down to -4°F
- Origin
- China, Japan, Siberia
- Preferred soil
- Rich, moist, well-drained
Expert tips
The key tip
Arrose généreusement et régulièrement : le sol doit rester humide mais pas détrempé, surtout en croissance (avril-septembre). En pot, contrôle tous les 2-3 jours ; en terre riche, l'humidité se maintient mieux. La Ligulaire souffre rapidement du dessèchement, qui provoque un flétrissement irréversible des feuilles.
The common mistake
La majorité des jardiniers la plantent trop au soleil direct ou en sol trop sec, puis s'étonnent que les feuilles se recroquevillent et que la plante végète. Elle a besoin de mi-ombre et d'un sol frais en permanence, pas de « bien drainé » comme on le dit souvent pour d'autres plantes.
The pro's trick
Paille le pied généreusement (5-8 cm) avec du compost bien décomposé ou des feuilles mortes : cela régule l'humidité du sol, refroidit les racines et épaissit le feuillage. Tu verras une vraie différence dès la première saison.
Seasonal watch
En été très chaud et sec, surveille l'attaque des limaces et escargots sur les jeunes feuilles : ils adorent le feuillage tendre et l'humidité qu'elle crée autour d'elle. Une inspection hebdomadaire et un écran anti-limaces autour du plant économisent des dégâts.
Care
Watering
Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist, especially during growth and flowering periods. In summer, increase watering frequency if the weather is dry. Avoid excess moisture though: waterlogged soil can cause root rot.
Exposure
Place your Ligularia in partial shade, ideally sheltered from the hot afternoon sun. It tolerates partial shade well but flowers more generously with a few hours of morning indirect sunlight. Too shady a location will slow its growth.
Soil
Enrich the soil at planting time with compost or leaf mold. Your Ligularia prefers fertile, deep, moisture-retentive soil. Add mulch at the base to retain moisture and nourish the plant throughout the season.
Pruning and cleanup
Remove spent flowers to extend the flowering period. In late autumn, cut the plant back once the foliage blackens after the first frosts. In spring, check that no dead matter is blocking new growth.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced or phosphorus-rich fertilizer in spring and early summer to support flowering. You can also use compost mulch that will gradually release its nutrients. Too much nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowers.
Diseases and pests
Watch out for slugs and snails that love tender young shoots: set up barriers or traps if needed. Powdery mildew can appear in humid, poorly ventilated conditions; ensure good air circulation and avoid wetting the foliage. Good airflow is usually enough to prevent problems.
Did you know?
Ligularia dentata has long been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for its supposed digestive properties. Its Latin name 'dentata' refers to its deeply toothed leaves that resemble large green hands, giving it remarkable graphic appeal in the garden, particularly highlighted in the humid shaded gardens of Asia.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- WormwoodArtemisia absinthium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.