Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ligularia

I've decided to plant more perennials in my garden, when I have read the description of many perennials in other blogs. And I thought of Ligularia growing for several years in my semi-shadow garden.


I grow these two varieties of them: Ligularia 'Przewalskii' (Golden Ray) and Ligularia dentata 'Othello' (Golden groundsel) 

 
I've recently watched at another variety of Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' (Bigleaf Goldenray) in the magazine, and would like to purchase it. These Ligularias attract a large number of butterflies and other insects in my garden.


So I've written in my 'Garden plan 'to do':
1. to divide roots of an old Ligularia
2. to find a place for divided parts in semi-shade
3. and to plant them with fertilizers in fall


Can anyone who has an experience advise me:
how should I better divide the roots: by hands or a shovel? 
Thank you!

58 comments:

  1. My dear Nadezda , very beautiful photos ! I have no advices because I don't know this plant and here, I think , I am not sure , that we don't have this !
    Good luck !
    Olympia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ligularia is a dramatic, big, bold plant that I would love to grow. But I can't find a good, shady spot with enough room (I have almost no shade). I like seeing how they add a punch of foliage and color in your garden. Those bright yellow rocket flowers are eye catching!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you're right, the Ligularia flowers are eye attracting! Thank you, Laurrie!

      Delete
  3. I would definitely want more of this gorgeous plant in my garden! I split and moved quite a few things last fall. Now I am anxiously waiting to see how they will do this summer. Good luck with your splitting and planting Nadezda :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary, I'm glad having these Ligularias. The neighbors often ask me what the plant with big leaves is. It draws the attention, especially with butterflies. Thank you!

      Delete
  4. I usually use both. Firsta shovel, then hands...i have those Ligularias as well and one or two else too. I don't know their official names. I'm bad with plants' names...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satu, it's nice you have them in your garden too! I will divide Ligularia very carefully because of its fragile roots. Thank you!

      Delete
  5. Nadezhda!
    Ligularia is a beautiful plant. It has great flowers.
    I admire your photos. They are beautiful.
    I have no luck with Ligularia. He does not like me.
    Regards

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess Ligularia likes you but you planted it in sunny spot, and it needs shadow. If you find another place, Ligularia will be OK. Thank you, Lucia!

      Delete
  6. Hello Nadezda,
    I have been admiring your photographs. They are very good.
    This Ligularia is a lovely plant. I asked AGA who is more of a gardener than I how they should be divided and he said 'use a shovel'.
    Bye for now
    Kirk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kirk, your advice is useful for my work plan, I wrote there: 'divide a shovel' Thank you!

      Delete
  7. Dear Nadezda,
    After I posted my comment AGA added that the shovel should be sharp, so you get a good cut.
    Kirk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kirk, I noticed in my plan 'sharpen a shovel'!
      I've read you was ill, take care!
      Thank you!

      Delete
  8. I've never divided these plants but they are beautiful and your pictures with the butterflies and bees are wonderful and remind me of warm summer days!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, how pretty! I've never grown ligularia in my garden - but I can see that I am missing quite a bit! If only I had the right spot for it - will have to look a little harder! Good luck with your dividing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Holley, I hope you will able to find shady place for Ligularia!

      Delete
  10. These Ligularia plants look quite pretty. We have only shade in our garden so we have flowers in planters. Last year though some animals, like deer or squirrels, ate all our flowers – all of them. So I am not sure we will go through the trouble this year – it’s a pity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's a pity, to lost all flowers in a garden! I'm so sorry, Vagabonde. Thank you!

      Delete
  11. Yes, I have both Ligularias and I divided the Ligularia przewalskii just with a shovel some years ago. They are lovely strong plants for the garden. The Ligularia dentata 'Othello' is selfseeding in my garden, so may be in spring in your garden also appear new beautiful dark circular leaves.
    Wish you a lot of success!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, it would be nice to have new seedlings! But I've never seen any seeds, I think here the warm time is too short and the plant can't grow seeds. Nevertheless I will divide them and plant some new Ligularias in shady places. Thank you, Janneke!

      Delete
  12. Hi Nadezda
    Thanks so much for mentioning my blog! I really do love perennials. There are so many to choose from but I do not have Ligularia! So if I have inspired you to plant some new ones, you have just done the same for me. Thanks!
    Astrid

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have a couple of these ligularia, I enjoy how one is tall and slender blooms and the other the more rounded blooms. Yours are quite beautiful!
    I am anxious to hear how you end up splitting yours, I'd like to divide mine but have not tried it before. Wish they would self sow for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barb, when snow melt, I will realize my work plan and take the photos of Ligularia dividing. Than you!

      Delete
  14. The flowers on this plant look quite pretty, I love the colours on the butterfly. Usually plants are divided with a sharp spade or shovel or sometimes you can use secateurs depending on how thick and intertwined the root ball is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, your advice is very practical! I will sharpen my shovel for this 'operation'. I'm sure I will need the secateurs too, because this plant is enough big and heavy and has many roots. Thank you!

      Delete
  15. Outstanding photographs! I especially love that butterfly, not a species I recognize. There are no Ligularia in my garden, though now and then I consider planting some. Your post gave me another nudge in that direction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jason, I'm glad you liked my photos. Thank you!

      Delete
  16. Great image series showing with spring flowers / butterflies :) Hanne Bente

    ReplyDelete
  17. First off I have to say that your pictures in this post are really terrific Nadezda! I especially admire the closeup of the bee and butterfly. I have only one Ligularia at the moment. I think these plants are as nice for the foliage as they are for the flowers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, I'm pleased that you liked these photos!
      Thank you!

      Delete
  18. Exellent pictures Nadezda!I love those with the butterfly!Beautiful flower Ligularia is!Spring is comming!I like your new look of your blog!Happy Valentine's Day!!Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dimi, you're right: spring will come, early or lately! Thank you!

      Delete
  19. Happy Valentine's Day, Nadezda! I don't know the plants you are presenting today, but they look lovely, look like great insect attractions too. The photo with the butterfly was gorgeous :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy Valentine's to you too!
      This Ligularia attracts many insects and I could spend hours taking pictures. I felt me safe between a number of bees,wasps and bumblebees. Thank you!

      Delete
  20. Nadezda!!!!!
    Happy Valentine's Day to you too !!!!
    Lucia

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks like both a striking foliage and flowering plant! Great close-ups of the bees and the beautiful red butterfly with the eyespots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you liked my photos, thank you, sweetbay!

      Delete
  22. Such a beautiful plant to add to your garden. I love the golden color, and the bees seem to love it. Wonderful plan, Nadezda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michelle, the golden color reminds me summer, sun, warmth, I love it as you. Thank you!

      Delete
  23. It sure is worthwhile planting these Ligularias when they are such great insect attractants. Bees, butterflies, insects give much vigour and enhance the garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course, you're right, Stiletto. Thank you!

      Delete
  24. What amazing photos!!! Always I try to use hands to carefully divide plants.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your advice, Anna! I will neatly do with roots.

      Delete
  25. I've never divided perennials unless the plant had developed a second plant that I could easily pull away. But it looks like you've been given some great advice! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy, there are a lot of small plants around the 'mother' bush. I will firstly divide them, as you advised. Thank you!

      Delete
  26. They look very pretty - I hope you have luck dividing and growing them. I have been busy dividing my summer-blooming perennials too, mostly campanulas and geraniums.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Masha, I do hope this dividing will be successful. I know I have to do carefully. Thank you!

      Delete
  27. Hi Nadezda, I hope you're doing well. The close up photos of the bees on your Ligularia blossoms are amazing! So pretty. I am growing Ligularia 'Othello' but my ground gets really dry in summer and because they like water, I decided I'm going to dig mine up and put it in a container so I can keep it watered. Also the slugs love to munch on the leaves so the container should help with that too.

    I wish I could tell you how to divide a Ligularia but I've never done it. I imagine it would be similar to a Hosta. You could try prying it apart with hands first and if that doesn't work then use a shovel. Good luck with yours. They're so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grace, I grow hosta and I divide them using a shovel (sharp!) Thanks for your advice, I will do the same with Ligularia. I grow it in shadow place so in hot days I water the plant a little. The slugs, oh! I fight against them especially after a rain.
      Thank you, Grace!

      Delete
  28. The blossems of Ligularia are very nice

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by Nadezda's Northern Garden blog!
I'm glad to read your friendly comments very much.
Feel free to comment on the posts or photos
I warmly welcome the new followers on my blog.