may root as they come in contact with
the soil; these can be separated from
the parent plant and transplanted.Inula ensifolia
swordleaf inula
compoSitae
Yellow daisylike flowers with skinny ray
petals; stiff, narrow green leaves
1–2 ft. high; 1–2 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms June–July
Zones 3–7
pruning Swordleaf inula flowers for
about 6 weeks in June and July, often
reblooming sporadically into August
and September. Shear by half after the
first wave of flowers has faded to
encourage stronger rebloom. Shearing
is also an effective way to thickenplants that have begun to open up in
the middle. Cut plants to the ground in
late fall.
other maintenance Given full
sun and average, well-drained garden
soil, this species is easy to grow. It
shows considerable drought tolerance
once established, but tends to contract
powdery mildew in overly dry soils, so
give it a drink during droughty
periods. Inula ensifolia is happiest in
cool-summer climates and melts out
in the Deep South after a few years.
Wherever it’s grown, division in spring
every 2 or 3 years is advisable to help
keep plants robust.
related plantS Inula ensifolia
‘Compacta’ makes a tight bun of foliage
and flowers. It tops out at 8–12 in.Iberis sempervirensInula ensifolia