Farfugium! It just kind of rolls off your tounge. At first, I really was miffed at the taxonomical change from what I knew as Ligularia tussilaginea to Farfugium japonicum. But, it acutally is a good thing, because what is still known as Ligularia are not predictably hardy here in our sultry Northeast Texas summers. Plus, I never did know how to pronounce "tussilaginea"! What is Farfugium? Probably best know as the Leopard Plant, large, lilypad like leaves with bright yellow splotches. Unlike their animal namesakes, I've had several Leopard Plants change their spots, or, more acurately, lose their spots. But, that doesn't bother me that much, because these are tremendous shade-loving perennials. Their large, bold leaves make great contrasts with feathery fern foliage. And, at this time if year, they are topped with an abundance of yellow daisy flowers, which clues you in that these are unlikely members of the Asteraceae or sunflower family. this photo is of a seedling that quickly reverted in my home garden. It is currently in full bloom. My favorite is the big, bold F. japonicum 'Giganteum' which I got from the good folks at Stephen F. Austin Mast Arboretum. It has enjoyed a prominent spot in my shade garden trial located in the Tyler Rose Garden. I'll share a photo a bit later.
Favorite Plants: November 2007 Archives
I've always liked Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida). Dr. William C. Welch, that great Texas plantsman at
Texas A&M introduced me to this plant many years ago, and it is a staple in my sunny perennial borders. It certainly doesn't seem like a marigold, certainly not like the common French or African type annual bedding plants which usually end up as spider mite hotels in a hot Texas summer. No, this marigold is very different. For starters, it is a perennial, coming back year after year from the root. It will also self-sow, giving new plants next year if an abnormally cold winter takes it out in Northeast Texas.
Mexican Mint Marigold is a fall bloomer, and apparently has a pretty strong short day photoperiod requirement, since it usually doesn't start blooming 'till at least mid-October. It's small, pretty, bright yellow flowers are held in abundance high on a 2 or 3 foot tall plant.
Since the first hard freeze, often in mid-November, ends the brief blooming season, is this plant worth taking up valuable space in your flower garden? It's obvious I think so, since it is one of my favorites. The foliage is its other great quality. Unlike stinky annual marigold leaves, and very smelling Copper Canyon Daisy (another late-blooming perennial marigold), Mexican Mint Marigold's foliage is delightfully aromatic. Does the word "Mint" in its name catch your attention? Another common name for this plant is Mexican, Spanish or Texas Tarragon, and in Mexico it is often referred to as Yerba Anise. The leaves have a distinct licorice smell and taste, and is sometimes used as a tarragon substitute. Since I don't do very much cooking, I can't comment much along those lines.
Mexican Mint Marigold blooms about the same time as Frikart's Aster, and the purple/blue and yellow combination is just dynamite (thanks to Bill Welch for that suggestion in his classic book Perennial Garden Color).
