Common Name: globe flower
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Zone: 3 to 7
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to July
Bloom Description: Golden yellow to orange
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Rabbit, Heavy Shade, Wet Soil
Culture
Easily grown in rich, humusy, moist to wet, well-drained soils in part shade. Tolerates close to full shade. Leaves may bleach out in full sun. This is a cool weather plant. It dislikes dry soils and hot, humid summers. It is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7 (some say Zone 6). The hotter the summer temperatures the more shade the plants require. If plants decline by mid-summer, cut back the foliage at that time. Established clumps may be divided in late summer to early fall. Plants will self-sow in the garden in optimum growing conditions. Plants require consistently moist soils and will thrive in boggy ones.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Trollius chinensis, commonly called globe flower, is a herbaceous perennial native to grassy slopes, wet meadows, and woodland edges in northeastern China, Mongolia, North Korea, and far southeastern Russia. Mature plants will reach 1-3' tall with a 0.5-1' spread. The lobed, rhomboid or pentagon-shaped leaves have irregularly toothed margins and are 1.5-2.5" long and 2.5-5" wide. There are 1-4 basal leaves per plant with relatively long, 5-12" petioles, while the cauline (stem) leaves are similar in shape and size but have shorter petioles, particularly higher on the stems. The golden yellow to bright orange, 1.5-2" wide flowers bloom from early to mid-summer on 3-6" long, terminal stalks, either solitarily or in cymes of 2-3. Clusters of 0.5" long, beaked fruits follow the blooms and mature from late summer to early fall.
Genus name comes from the German word troll meaning round in reference to flower shape.
The specific epithet chinensis means "of China", in reference to part of the native range of this species.
The common name globe flower refers to the shape of the blooms of some members of the genus Trollius.
'Golden Queen' features 2-3" wide golden-orange blooms. Mature plants will reach 2-3' tall and 1.5-2' wide.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Powdery mildew may occur.
Uses
Excellent for moist soils along streams or ponds. Bog gardens. Moist meadows. Also appropriate for moist areas of borders, rock gardens or open woodland areas. Mass plantings can be spectacular in flower. Good with ferns and astilbe.