All media depicts mature plants.

'Green Tractor' Ligularia

Perennial

8 total reviews

  • Bred to be cold hardy down to zone 4!
  • Massive leaves command attention in shade gardens.
  • Deer-resistant alternative to hostas.
  • Zones 4-9, part sun to shade, 3.5' tall and 4.5' wide at maturity.
  • ZONE
  • EXPOSURE
  • HEIGHT
Size: One Quart
Regular price $25.00
Sale price Sale: $25.00 Regular price Each
Total: $25.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee
Hand-Picked at Our Greenhouse
Shipped to Your Door
Arrives as a Young Plant
60 Day Risk-Free Guarantee

Description

While tractor seats ( Ligularia or Farfugium) may be well-known tender perennials in the south, our friends at Walter's Gardens have bred the new cultivar 'Green Tractor' Ligularia to be cold hardy to USDA zone 4! Massive (16") leaves boast deep green hues and a subtle shiny sheen that commands attention in shade gardens. Flowers bloom above the foliage in midsummer with long, bright yellow petals, attracting bees and butterflies. It's deer resistant, making it a suitable replacement for hostas in gardens that suffer from deer damage. For the best performance, plant it in an area with early morning sun and consistently moist (or even wet) soils alongside astilbes, toad lilies, or cranesbill.

Details

Botanical name: Ligularia 'Tractor Seat'
Patent #: PPAF
Common name: Ligularia, Leopard plant, Goldenray
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Part shade
Height x width: 3.5' X 4.5'
Flower color: Yellow
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Wet soils, rain gardens, proven winners, heat tolerant, deer resistant, container plants, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Borders, containers, edging, ground cover, massing, small spaces, under planting, woodland

How to Grow

Soil: Grow in any average soil with average to abundant moisture.
Light: Part shade - filtered light or 4-6 hours of sun.
Water: Average to moist. Keeping this plant too dry will cause it to enter dormancy prematurely.
Spacing: 3.5 - 4 ft
Fertilizing: Apply compost or aged manure in spring to increase organic matter content and provide a nitrogen boost.
Winterizing: Winter mulching will prevent the freezing and thawing that can heave plants' roots.
Maintenance & pruning: Cut back the entire flower stalk after flowering to put the plant's energy into growing more leaves.

Your Questions About Building a Rain Garden, Answered

Rain gardens have taken the horticultural industry by storm, no pun intended. Here, Great Garden Plants answers all your questions about designing, planting, and caring for rain gardens.

Learn More

Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:

bush distance

Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:

bush distance zigzag

Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.

Plant Spacing Calculator

ft
ft
in
Plants Needed
—
Enter your dimensions above
Grid preview will appear here showing preview
  • 5 stars: 5 (63%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (13%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 1 (13%)
  • 1 star: 1 (13%)
N
N.C. (Arizona)
Green Tractor Lugularia

Plants came very well through shipping and were very healthy. Too soon to tell how well they will do in the garden, but hopefull.

D
D.A. (Wisconsin)
Tractor Seat

Healthy plants! Took some adjusting to its new home and a little nibbling from the local rabbits!
Have it protected now and it seems happy.
I don’t expect much this year but look forward to its show next year! Very Happy…. I thinks it’s gonna be an eye catcher! ❤️

K
K.T.

Looked great when it arrived! Cant wait to see it bloom!

P
P.R.

Just planted. Can’t wait for the Fall!

M
M.T.

It arrived with 1 green leaf and three dead brown crispy leaves… it is still existing in my cutting garden… I would not buy again

Hello! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. We try our best to provide excellent plants, but some factors, like shipping and handling, are outside our control. That’s why we have a 60-day guarantee on all of our orders. Please email your order number and pictures of your plants to start the claims process. We look forward to helping!

C
C.J.S. (New York)
Struggling somewhat.

Doesn't care for much sun and is needing a lot of extra watering ... but looking good, so far.

On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. Shipping can place additional stress on the plant, meaning it may require extra care and attention while it becomes more established in your garden! Our team of experienced horticulturists would love to take a look if you'd like. Just contact us at [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plants. All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee

E
E.H. (Vermont)
Healthy plant, nicely packed

The Ligularia arrived safely; it was well packed and came through shipping well. I’ve planted it out, and so far, it’s doing fine. I’m very happy with the quality and service of the plants I’ve gotten from you. Thanks!

5
5.5. (Wisconsin)
dead plant

plant had only 2 leaves and it died

Hello! We apologize that you received plants that are not up to our standards. While we try our best to provide exceptional service, some factors, like shipping and handling, are outside our control, and issues like this can sometimes happen. Please email pictures of the plants to [email protected], making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. Rest assured, we have a 60-day guarantee on all our plants. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we would be happy to apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening!
https://www.greatgardenplants.com/pages/our-guarantee

B
B.

Are these vulnerable to Powder Mildew? Or other fungal/viral issues?

Great Garden Plants

The 'Green Tractor' Ligularia prefer moist conditions/partial shade, which can sometimes create an environment conducive to fungal issues if managed correctly. Please make sure to provide adequate spacing for air circulation, avoiding overhead watering to keep foliage dry, and cleaning up plant debris to help minimize the risk of powdery mildew and other fungal issues.

D
D.

I bought 3 plant and planed them 3 -4 weeks ago. I haven’t seen any growth since. When should I expect them to start? I’m in North Georgia mountain area just north of Atlanta.

Great Garden Plants

It's hard to say for certain, since so many factors - like weather, soil type, watering, fertilizing, and not least of all, the type of plant you purchased - all come into play. Perhaps you're familiar with the old saying about plants: first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap. This applies to plants in the garden center as well as plants you purchase online. They generally spend their first year growing roots in their new home, the second year they have more energy to put into growth, and the third year, they are growing and flowering vigorously.

J
J.P.

Can you pot a tractor seat plant

Great Garden Plants

Yes, Ligularia make very good container plants!