Trollius

Trollius

Common name: Globeflower

Family: Ranunculaceae, Buttercup

Height x width: 1-3’ high x 1-2’ wide

Growth habit: erect clumps

Growth rate: moderate

Foliage: basal leaves with petioles, palmately 3 to 5 lobed; stem leaves stalkless (sessile) and 3-lobed; glossy dark to mid-green, toothed margins

Flowers: terminal on stems either singly or twos; globular 1 to 2" across; showy parts are actually incurved sepals, the 5 or more nectary-bearing petals being small and spoon-shaped (spatulate); gold, white, orange in mid to late spring

Hardiness: USDA zones 4-7

Soil: moist, fertile, preferably near or along water; moisture key in warmer climates

Light: full sun, part shade

Pests and Problems: powdery mildew occasionally

Landscape habit, uses: along ponds, streams, water gardens, bog gardens, moist meadow, containers, cut flower

Other interest: native to moist or wet meadows of Europe, Asian and North America; from the German Trollblume meaning globeflower

Other culture: keep from drying out, cut back foliage in mid to late summer

Propagation: ripe seeds sown fresh, otherwise germination may take a year or more with chilling; fresh seed germinates in about 3 weeks, but germination may be variable or low especially with old seed; may be divided in early fall or spring

Species: the following are the most commonly seen ornamental species

chinensis (chii-nen’siss)--related and similar to ledebourii only later flowering; native to China and Russia; least hardy of species; ‘Golden Queen’ is more commonly seen, although it may be listed under x cultorum
x cultorum (cul-tore’um)-- Hybrid Globeflower; hybrids of europaeus, asiaticus, and chinensis; late spring bloom
europaeus (your-o-paa’us)-- Common Globeflower; more tolerant of dry soils; ‘Superbus’ flowers more prolifically and is more commonly found than the species, although it may be found listed under x cultorum; orange
ledebourii (lead-e-boor’ee-ii)--Ledebour Globeflower; more vigorous and taller (3’) than other species; flowers flat when open; orange
pumilus (pu’mill-us)--Dwarf Globeflower; shortest (one foot or less) of species; good for a moist rock garden; flowers opening flat; yellow

Cultivars: of x cultorum unless noted; those marked * are more commonly seen; those marked RHS received the Award of Merit

Cultivar	flowers
‘Alabaster’	pale primrose yellow
‘Canary Bird’	pale lemon yellow, long bloom
‘Cheddar’	near white, double
‘Commander in Chief’	golden yellow, large
‘Earliest of All’	yellow, large
‘Etna’	dark orange
‘Fire Globe’	orange, double
‘Golden Queen’ (chinensis)	tangerine orange, opening flat, RHS
‘Goldquelle’ (‘Gold Fountain)	yellow, large, RHS
‘Lemon Queen’	pale yellow, double, large, late
‘Orange Princess’	orange-gold, late, RHS
‘Superbus’ (europaeus)	sulfur yellow to 4" across, RHS
‘T. Smith’	lemon yellow, double, late

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