Have you ever entered someone’s home and after a quick scan of the surroundings, said to yourself “The 90’s called and they want their home décor style back.” Or “Is this house used for filming a TV show that is set in the 80’s?” Or “Shit, that’s a lot of stainless steel.”
If not, you’re a better human than me.
I think you might have a similar thought if you were to walk through my garden. Not that I’ve ever tried to keep up with whatever was in style or the hot look of the moment. I’m not that in tune. But you would witness a ton of dark-leaved shrubs and perennials which may have been the preferred foliage style of a time passed by.
I could go on and on with the pics, but you get the point. I can’t get enough of the darker foliage. It catches my eye at every nursery visit. It makes me stop in my tracks as I leaf through a plant catalog. And I’ve assumed all along that everyone shared this same sentiment.
But maybe many of you have moved on. Maybe it was a trend and I was oblivious to it ending? John, you’re garden is like, so 2008. I honestly don’t know.
And I honestly don’t give a you-know-what.
Give me brown leaves, give me dark red leaves, give me some chocolate leaves. They make me happy.
And this is why I’ve been so frustrated with my Ligularia ‘Britt-Marie Crawford’.
Quick aside: Has a friend or neighbor or nosy stranger ever asked you the name of a plant in your garden and you hesitated before sharing the name? Do you internally debate how to craft the answer? Do you go with the common name? The botanical name? Do you include the cultivar name like “Britt-Marie Crawford”? If you do include the cultivar name do you state it with confidence or with a hint of embarrassment? I tend to stick to common names so I don’t sound like an elitist but the problem is I don’t know the common names for most plants.
Moving on.
Actually, one more aside, a note on the cultivar name: This plant was first discovered by Britt-Marie Crawford growing in a plot of Ligularia dentata ‘Othello’ in Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom. After her death, her husband, James Crawford, took steps to honor his wife by naming the cultivar after her and introducing it into commerce.
Now that is love.
Really moving on this time.
My Leopard plant (yes I had to look the common name up) has lived in at least five locations within my garden since I purchased it on-line years ago. It wasn’t until I found a spot that receives afternoon shade and isn’t visited by the deer that it thrived.
But I didn’t acquire it for the green leaves and yellow flowers. I honestly don’t like yellow flowers all that much. I bought it for that bold red/purplish-black/maroon foliage. I wanted it to be a focal point. And to date, that hasn’t happened.
This is what I wanted to see. This is what I was promised.
And while the leaf shape is fantastic and unique, I still long for that darker shade.
I’ll even trade in the flowers in exchange for my desired leaf color.
Please flood the comments with your experience with this perennial. Super curious to see what you all have to say.
