If you want to be a cool gardener this year and grow a less common plant, Trollius plants a.k.a. globe flowers are the ace up your sleeve! These beauties have all it takes to bring a touch of personality to your current collection. No matter how high your expectations are, globe flowers will surely surprise you and your guests. Let these plants spruce up your garden while you sit back and enjoy their blooms!
Trollius is a genus that contains about 30 species of magnificent flowering plants. The flowers from this genus are native to the Northern Hemisphere areas, mostly in those with cool temperate climates. Yet, they are representative and most diverse in Asia.
In cultivation, gardeners know these plants by their common name globe flower (or sometimes Globeflower). Many plant admirers hold a great appreciation for globe flowers, but not only for their overall graceful appearance. They are relatively easy to grow and care for if you pay attention to their basic environmental demands.
All Trollius species are eye-catching by nature, coming in various shapes, sizes, and colors. The most popular ornamentals are T. chinensis, T. europaeus, T. ledebourii, T. paluster, and T. pumilus, along with their varieties and hybrids.
About Trollius
- The stunning cultivars T. ‘Golden Queen’, T. × cultorum ‘Orange Princess’, and T. × cultorum ‘Superbus’ have gained the well-known Award of Garden Merit.
- Globe flowers are very versatile plants that make for excellent additions to bog gardens, meadows, rain gardens, beds, borders, and near ponds or streams. They are also great as potted plants if provided with lots of moisture.
- You can enjoy these plants indoors as cut flowers in beautiful vases. Outdoors, however, their gorgeous flowers would attract some species of pollinators like butterflies or even hummingbirds.
- Trollius plants are a popular food source for the larvae of many Lepidoptera species, such as the silver-ground carpet moth.
- The common name of these plants refers to their many curved petals that resemble a globe. In numerous regions worldwide, Globe flowers are a symbol of gratitude.
- In terms of health benefits, some people believe that Trollius plants have purgative properties and also use them traditionally as a treatment for certain afflictions.
- These plants, however, can have toxic effects on humans and animals if touched or ingested. For overall safety, you should grow your Trollius plants in a spot where your children or furry friends cannot reach them.
Trollius Features: An Overview
- Globe flowers belong to the Ranunculaceae family. They share this family with other well-known genera, such as Aconitum, Clematis, Delphinium, or Ranunculus.
- They are perennial wildflowers that can reach from 1 to 3 feet (30-91 cm) in height and up to 2 feet (61 cm) in width. These plants have a mounding growth habit.
- Their foliage is very attractive. Globe flowers produce clumps of palmate, toothed, deeply divided, and dark green leaves that grow on long, erect, and upright stalks.
- Trollius plants bloom from mid-spring through early summer (May to July). During this period, they exhibit showy globular or bowl-shaped flowers that measure between 2 and 3 inches (5-7.6 cm) in diameter.
- Their blossoms resemble double Buttercups. They have numerous petals and come in various shades of white, yellow, orange, pinkish, or lilac.
- When Trollius species grow in proper conditions, they may re-seed. In general, the seeds from these plants can take up to two years or so to germinate.
- Globe flowers will look fantastic next to other interesting species of plants. The best companions for them are Arendsii Hybrid, Bowles’ Golden Sedge, Candelabra Primrose, Common Bistort, Giant Cowslip, Great Masterwort, and Lady’s Mantle.
Growing Trollius
Although Globe flowers have a reputation as picky plants, a lot of gardeners would say otherwise. These lovely wildflowers are pretty easy-going if you manage to find the perfect spot for them in your garden or home. The most common mistakes among gardeners include providing improper growing conditions and general care. But no worries, you got this!
In terms of lighting, Trollius plants are very adaptable and will tolerate a wide range of conditions. These flowers grow at their best in full sunlight, but they can also do just fine in a partially shaded area. In both indoor and outdoor settings, grow your plants in a location where they can receive at least six hours of bright and direct light daily. If you live in a region with very hot summers, your babies will appreciate some protection from the harsh afternoon sun.
- Trollius Globeflower Europeus Perennial Seeds
- Vibrant Colors: Cascade Mix Lobelia offers a dazzling array of colors including reds, blues, whites, and purples, creating a vibrant display in gardens or hanging baskets.
- Trailing Beauty: Known for its trailing habit, this lobelia variety can reach lengths of 6-8 inches, making it perfect for cascading over edges or down from containers.
- Growth and Care: Thrives in full sun to partial shade, with seeds best sown indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost for optimal growth. Requires well-drained soil and regular watering.
- Versatile Use: Ideal for borders, window boxes, or as ground cover, providing continuous blooms from early summer to fall, enhancing any garden's aesthetic with minimal care.
- Quality: All seeds packaged by Seed Needs are intended for the current and the following growing seasons. All seeds are stored in a temperature controlled facility that is free of significant amounts of moisture.
Last update on 2025-05-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When it comes to temperatures, Globe flowers usually thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 7. These plants prefer slightly warmer temperatures, but they will also tolerate frosty winter months without any issues. Make sure you keep your flowers away from extremely hot temperatures because they cannot handle them very well.
In general, Globe flowers are carefree plants that do not encounter many pest infestations or fungal diseases. Still, if you are growing your plants in dry climates or high humidity levels, powdery mildew can bother them once in a while. Poor air circulation or not enough sunlight may also contribute to the onset of this fungus.
Powdery mildew usually shows its presence through white or grey powder-like spots on the leaves, stems, or flowers. If you notice this sign on your plants, you should remove the unhealthy parts to prevent any future spread. Moreover, you can apply neem oil or a powdery mildew fungicide once every week until you manage to get rid of the fungus.
Planting Trollius
Trollius plants are self-fertile, growing without problems in loamy or clay soils and any pH level. However, these buddies will perform best in heavy, wet clay growing mediums that are rich in humus. They also do well in boggy and poorly drained substrates, so you should avoid dry soils at any cost.
During their flowering season, we recommend you deadhead your Trollius plants. This process consists of removing all spent blossoms to make room for new ones to appear. By doing this, you will have more flowers around to enjoy their charming presence.
Once their blooming period has ended, your Globe flowers will benefit from a balanced liquid fertilizer. First things first, you will have to cut back the plants’ foliage before feeding them. After that, you can fertilize your flowers once or twice, then let them be. These particular two steps will ensure vigorous growth and promote more flowers in the next year.
Watering Trollius
The process of watering these superb flowering perennials is piece of cake, especially for beginner gardeners! Trollius plants are big lovers of moisture, so you cannot possibly over-water them. After all, the worst thing you can do to these flowers is to deprive them of water.
The only seasons when you can skip watering for good are winters and cooler autumns. During this period, they usually become dormant and do not require supplemental irrigation.
To adopt a suitable watering routine, make sure you check the soil of your Globe flowers regularly. When the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil feels dry to the touch, you should provide your beauties with a nice touch of water. In regions with frequent rainfalls, however, these plants will not demand any extra effort on your part.
Propagating Trollius
With their unlimited beauty and easy-going style, Trollius plants can easily find a place in our hearts. Knowing this, it is absolutely normal to want more of these irresistible plants as your companions. And, of course, you can also gift these symbols of gratitude to your beloved family members or friends. Because everything is better when shared with others!
You can propagate globe flowers through stem cuttings or division without any problem along the way. For both methods, your experience in the gardening world is irrelevant. All you have to do is find your inner courage and follow our simple steps!
If you want to propagate Trollius plants through cuttings, you will need as many healthy stems as you can get. Look for healthy stalks and cut about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) off them using a sharp, sterilized knife. Remove the bottom half leaves from each cutting and let the top half untouched. Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone before planting for optimal growth. With lots of sunlight and moisture, your cuttings will develop a healthy root system in several weeks.
Besides propagation purposes, globe flowers will really benefit from regular division once every year in spring. When their active growing season begins, you must dig out your plants and divide their roots into as many parts as possible. However, keep in mind that each root section should have at least one stem attached to it. Once you have the divided roots, transplant your tiny plants in their permanent location and care for them as before.
In Conclusion
When it comes to gardens with lots of sunlight and moisture, Globe flowers are among the favourites for most plant lovers out there. And why wouldn’t they be? As long as you meet their basic needs, these plants will surround you with cute flowers for a very long time. Now, the real question– which cultivar will be your next companion?
1 Comment
I love my globe flowers. However, mine shot up fast this year and are very tall and leggy, so a hard rain can break them over. Can I prune them and still get blooms this season. This is a great website and I’m ordering a catalog. Also, I lost my delphiniums when a neighbor’s dog dug the roots up last fall.. They we’re very special and tall as my cabin roof after maturing. I want some new plantings for next year.
I live in Alaska and can’t find any.
An previous neighbor gave them to me originally. Thank you in advance for any consideration, information you could send. Happy planting!