Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Britt-Marie Crawford Ligularia: Glossy Dark Leaves, Orange Daisies
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Britt-Marie Crawford ligularia is grown for its leaves: broad, rounded, glossy, up to about a foot across, dark chocolate-purple on top and bright purple underneath. It is among the darkest-leaved ligularias, and in late summer it adds a dramatic finish with golden orange daisies on purplish-black stems.
It is a bold specimen for moist shade and wet ground, and it would struggle anywhere a lavender would be happy. Plant it on the shady, damp side of the property and let the lavender keep the sunny, dry beds.
Britt-Marie Crawford at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford' |
| Foliage | Glossy chocolate-purple with bright purple undersides |
| Flowers | Golden orange daisies on purplish-black stems |
| Size | 36 to 48 inches tall in flower, 24 to 36 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early August, peaks mid-August |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Recognition | RHS Award of Garden Merit |
| Deer | Resistant |
Getting the darkest color
Light changes this plant's look. With some gentle morning sun, the leaves deepen to their richest chocolate-purple. In heavier shade they turn deep green with a purple cast. Hot afternoon sun is the one thing to avoid, since the dark leaves scorch and wilt quickly even in moist soil.
Where it fits in the bigger garden
Use it as a single specimen where it can be seen, such as beside a pond, at the corner of a shaded patio or in a large container. Its huge, dark leaves are a strong contrast to fine-textured ferns and gold or chartreuse hostas. The late-summer orange daisies arrive in August, after the lavender harvest, so they give the shade side of the garden its own moment late in the season. Map the shady and sunny parts of your plan in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: rich and consistently moist; it handles boggy ground.
- Water: deeply in summer and during every heat wave.
- Slugs and snails: the main pests. Check young leaves in spring.
- After bloom: cut the flower stems back to keep the focus on the foliage, if you prefer.
- Fall: keep it evenly moist into fall, cut foliage down after frost and mulch the crown.
Midday wilting on a hot day is common with ligularias and usually recovers in the evening. If the leaves are still limp in the morning, the plant needs more water or more shade.
Ordering format
Britt-Marie Crawford is offered as a 72-cell plug tray. See the product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Is it good in a container?
Yes, in a large pot with rich mix and frequent watering. Containers dry out faster than ground soil, and this plant does not forgive dryness.
Do pollinators visit the flowers?
The orange daisies have good pollinator value and are visited in late summer.
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