Ligularia tangutica (Chinese groundsel)

Ligularia tangutica (Chinese groundsel) is somewhat different from the other Ligularias, as it spreads steadily by forming waxy underground tubers. The foliage is deeply dissected and the pyramidal yellow flower spikes are quite open. In rich damp soil the flower spikes can reach a metre or so, but more commonly it’s about 50cm tall. The whole plant retreats in winter back to just the tuber.