Asphodeline lutea Italian Gold Ligularia These Helleborus x hybridus plants

These Helleborus x hybridus plants were all hand-selected after flowering

Dry winter soils are the key to good survival in cold climates

the giant clump is topped with nice near-white flower clusters on 48" tall scapes

The 3' tall slender stalk is topped with a large horseshoe-shaped leaf composed of up to 23 leaflets

Asphodeline lutea Italian Gold Ligularia These Helleborus x hybridus plantsFor years, we tried to grow Asphodeline lutea only to have them croak faster than bullfrogs on an interstate highway. We repeated the process every few years until 2011, when Italian plantsman Angelo Porcelli shared wild collected Asphodeline lutea seed from an Italian population. The resulting plants of king's spear have thrived in our garden despite our hot, humid summers and wet, cold winters. Asphodeline lutea 'Italian Gold' makes a basal rosette