Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Elecampane

Description:

A dramatic summer and fall bloomer producing tall spikes of bright golden-yellow flowers over huge green textured leaves; excellent for the back of borders or massed; tolerates poor dry soil

Ornamental Features

Sonnenspeer Inula has masses of beautiful yellow daisy flowers with gold eyes and a brown ring at the ends of the stems from early to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive large crinkled sword-like leaves remain green in colour with curious bluish-green undersides throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Sonnenspeer Inula is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Sonnenspeer Inula is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Sonnenspeer Inula will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity extending to 5 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 4 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.