Midnight Lady Ragwort

‘Midnight Lady’ is a clump-forming ligularia grown for its large, rounded purple-black leaves and midsummer spikes of golden-yellow to orange daisy-like flowers. The flowering stems and foliage stand out in a border or beside water, and both can be cut for arrangements. Jelitto Seeds introduced this cultivar in 2008, and the opened exact-cultivar profile at Perennials.com lists USDA zones 3–9 ([Perennials.com](https://www.perennials.com/plants/ligularia-dentata-midnight-lady.html), [Royal Horticultural Society](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/273635/ligularia-dentata-midnight-lady/details), [Chicago Botanic Garden](https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/plant-finder/ligularia-dentata-midnight-lady-bigleaf-goldenray)). ## Maintenance Grow it in deep, reliably moist soil in full sun with some midday shade, or in partial shade in warm-summer regions. It tolerates moist and poorly drained ground, but shelter the tall stems from strong winds. Cut back old stems in late winter and divide the clump in spring every three to four years if it becomes crowded. Check for slugs and snails, which can damage the foliage.