Inula racemosa 'Sonnenspeer'

?Sunspear? is a descriptive name for the 4-6' stalks of 2-3" bright-yellow late summer ?daisies? that top this Chinese wildflower, medicinally-used roots anchor it. S/M

We are so happy to discover that, unlike the other species of this magnificent genus, I. racemosa do not need a cold winter to bloom here in our mild winter Bay Area climate. Ours bloomed the first year! A dramatic, star quality summer and fall bloomer, it's tough easy and long-lived. Impressive, large, lush and fuzzy leaves to one foot long form a stately clump to three feet tall and three feet across. Big and showy, the thin-rayed golden-yellow Aster-like flowers make a stunning show beginning in June, atop noble stems to seven feet tall. Superb as a single specimen when you give it room and quite majetic when it's surrounded by low-growing grass or groundcovers. Tolerates poor, dry soil but best in fertile, well-drained soil. Deer resistant!

Towering to over 6 feet tall, with huge leaves over a foot long, lots of drama in this plant even before the big clusters of shaggy yellow daisy flowers open in the summer. Zone 4