Trollius x cultorum Lemon Queen

Trollius x cultorum Lemon Queen, also known as a hybrid globeflower, has generous and sunny flowers from the month of May, bridging the gap between spring bulbs and the reign of perennials in summer. Its muslin-like flowers, in large double cups of a light lemon yellow, are carried on top of long stems, towering over a luxuriant and elegantly incised foliage. It is a perfectly hardy perennial, very interesting for its rapid growth and its ability to withstand very wet and marshy soils. If you take care to regularly cut the flowers, for example for making bouquets, this variety will bloom all summer.

Trollius x cultorum belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. This genus includes about 25 species native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere (Himalayas, eastern Tibet and China) where they evolve near watercourses, without ever becoming invasive. 'Lemon Queen', obtained in the 1920s, is part of a group of hybrids resulting from the cross-breeding between Trollius europaeus, T.asiaticus and T.chinensis.

This vigorous Lemon Queen variety forms a clump of basal foliage from which emerge leafy floral stems, either single or branched, reaching a height of 60 cm (24in) and a diameter of 50 cm (20in) depending on the growing conditions. It is also an accent plant due to the richness and intensity of its flowering, perfectly highlighted by its spring green foliage. From May-June to October, its double flowers with dense stamens, 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter, appear. They display diaphanous petals that capture light well. Its deciduous foliage is composed of highly incised, palmately-lobed, dark green and shiny leaves.

Trollius Lemon Queen appreciates fertile and humus-rich, even wet or marshy soils, as well as a sunny or lightly shaded positions. It will therefore find its place in a well-watered garden, in a bed, or on a bank near a waterpoint, planted en masse or in the company of plants that share similar growing conditions: Willowherbs, Vernonia, Astilbes or even Physostegia virginiana.

We recommend associating this perennial with a collection of plants with remarkable foliage and white flowers to create a chic planting scheme.  Position Gunnera tinctoria as a backdrop, followed by Rodgersia and perhaps Itea virginica Little Henry tas well as arums and marsh irises. You can dress their base with Trollius pumilus to create large carpets of flowers.