Inula magnifica | <\/i>Magnificent Elecampane<\/p>\n
Magnificent Elecampane, also known as Giant Fleabane, Elf Wort, and Showy Elecampane, is named after Helen of Troy. Legend has it, she was holding Elecampane in her hand when she left to live with Paris in Troy. Another legend says that it sprung up from where her tears fell.\u00a0 It was used in ancient Rome for culinary purposes. The roots of \u201cMagnificent\u201d taste similar to Inula helenium<\/em>, but \u201cMagnificent\u201d is less root productive and not used medicinally as often.<\/p>\n Magnificent Elecampane\u00a0 is an easy going, towering, deciduous perennial native to Europe. Huge, rough-textured, dock-like leaves up to 18″ and multiple upright stems bearing large golden-yellow daisy-like flowers with dark centers, up to 6 inches across.<\/p>\n Brightens up gardens with little maintenance, asking only for well drained soil. Reliable and long lived. Give it plenty of space because as its name suggests, its pretty magnificent!<\/p>\n Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds. Deer resistant. Makes a great cut flower.<\/p>\n Very similar to Telekia speciosa<\/em>\u00a0 (Heartleaf Oxeye), but differs from Elecampane in that its broader, heart-shaped leaves have green undersides while Elecampane\u2019s long spear-shaped leaves have woolly undersides.<\/p>\n Type: Perennial<\/p>\n Sub exposure: Full sun to part shade<\/p>\n Mature height: 6-8 ft<\/p>\n Mature width: 3-4 ft<\/p>\n Hardiness zones: 5-8<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Check out this cool video on Elecampane by Yarrow Willard<\/p>\n