Bottle Rocket Ligularia

Bottle Rocket is a compact, clump-forming Ligularia with thick, deeply toothed green leaves and mustard-yellow flower spikes held on dark stems. Plant it where the soil stays cool and moist and the afternoon sun is filtered; the named selection is listed for USDA Zones 4–9 in Proven Winners’ landscape catalog. [Proven Winners’ Bottle Rocket profile](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/ligularia/bottle-rocket-ligularia-hybrid) · [2013 Proven Winners perennial catalog](https://www.provenwinners.com/sites/provenwinners.com/files/images/professional/catalogs/2013-catalog-perennial-section-o.pdf) ## Form and flowering The dense foliage clump reaches about 28–34 inches tall and 24–28 inches wide. Mustard-yellow flower spikes rise just above the leaves in midsummer; the official profile also lists spring and summer as the flowering seasons. Its compact, robust habit suits a shaded border, a large container, a rain garden edge, or repeated mass planting. The flowers attract bees, and the plant is listed as deer resistant. [Walters Gardens’ cultivar profile](https://www.waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=LIGBR) ## Site and soil Give Bottle Rocket part shade to shade and fertile, neutral soil. Keep the root zone consistently moist while providing good drainage; do not let the soil dry out during hot weather. A cool, sheltered site helps prevent stress from hot afternoon sun. The variety profile describes average water needs, while its growing notes emphasize consistent moisture, particularly in heat. ## Maintenance Check moisture during warm, dry spells and water before the root zone dries. Remove tired foliage as needed and cut back old growth when new spring growth begins. Leave adequate room for the mature clump and avoid exposing it to prolonged hot afternoon sun.