Britt-Marie Crawford Ligularia - 72-Cell Plug Tray

Britt-Marie Crawford is grown for its bold, glossy leaves in dark chocolate-purple with bright purple undersides. With some morning sun the color deepens; in more shade the leaves turn deep green with a purple cast.

In late summer, golden orange daisy-like flowers perch on purplish-black stems, a striking contrast with the dark foliage. The plant grows 3 to 4 feet tall in bloom and 2 to 3 feet wide. Use it as a specimen in a moist shade garden, by a pond, or in a large container.

What it looks like

Broad, rounded to kidney-shaped leaves up to about a foot across with toothed edges, glossy dark chocolate-purple on top and bright purple underneath. Leaves form a bold, mounded clump. In late summer, branching purplish-black stems carry loose clusters of golden orange, daisy-like flowers with dark centers above the foliage. The plant is about 36 to 48 inches tall in flower and 24 to 36 inches wide. At peak orange daisies float over a mound of shiny dark leaves.

Growing it with lavender

Ligularia needs shade and constantly moist soil, the opposite of lavender's dry, sunny bed, so plant it by a pond, in a rain garden or in a damp, shady spot with hostas and ferns.

Care

Plant in part shade, ideally morning sun with afternoon shade, in rich soil that stays consistently moist; the leaves wilt quickly in hot afternoon sun or dry soil. Hardy in zones 4-9. Water deeply in summer, watch for slugs on young leaves, and cut spent flower stems after bloom.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Ligularia dentata
• Flower color: Golden orange
• Foliage: Glossy chocolate-purple with bright purple undersides
• Growth habit: Bold, mounded clump
• Mature size: 36 in–4 ft tall × 24–36 in wide
• USDA hardiness zones: 4–9
• Light: part sun to part shade
• Bloom start: Early-August
• Peak bloom: Mid-August
• Bloom pattern: Single Flush
• Deer resistance: Resistant
• Pollinator value: Good

Sizes and shipping

One full 72-cell plug tray: 72 young starter plugs of this variety (cells about 1⅓ in. wide × 2½ in. deep), rooted and ready to pot up into quarts or gallons. Best for growers and nurseries. Potted plants and plug trays ship during our live-plant seasons, March 1–May 31 and October 1–November 30; June through September is local pickup only. Plugs, potted plants and trays do not ship to AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT or WA.