Mexican winged crown beard
Verbesina olsenii
In a world where most plant breeders and nursery folks buy into the mistaken proposition that homeowners all want short plants, I embrace perennial plants that buck the prevailing trend. I can’t imagine anything worse that opening my front door and being able to see all the plants in my garden at one glance….sort of like having the interior of your home decorated with all midget-sized furniture. One of my long-time favorite giant perennials is the Mexican winged crown beard, Verbesina olsenii, which I first became acquainted with in 1998, after seed were collected in Northern Mexico the previous fall by my friends at Yucca Do Nursery.
Verbesina olsenii actually came to us under the incorrect name of Verbensina microptera, which turns out to be a completely different species. The giant Verbesina olsenii is not a perennial for the faint of heart, since it grows at a rate that would make Jack, the one who successfully cultivated beanstalks, proud. Emerging from the ground in late spring, the giant stalks reach skyward, topping out in late summer at a shade producing10’ tall.
I’d grow Verbesina olsenii for the stems alone, which are truly amazing…1” wide and square, with oversized papery wings lining each corner. As the stalks stretch skyward, the wings gradually disappear from the base, which begins to look like a tree trunk. The 2” caliper stalks are each clothed with 20” long, thick, green fuzzy, bold-textured leaves…about the size and shape of Sasquatch’s feet.
By early fall, the clump has reached its’ full height, although its’ ground footprint is only 4’ wide. Verbesina olsenii finally gets around to flowering, but only when it senses frost is fast approaching…sometimes miscalculating slightly, only to have the developing flowers get singed by an early freeze. The giant 15” – 18” wide flower clusters of small bright yellow, tootsie-roll scented flowers, are held atop the 10’ tall stalks. So, either plant crown beard where you can look at it from above, rent a hot air balloon for a flyover, or buy a pair of binoculars…the latter is most economical.
Although in its’ native haunts, Verbesina olsenii can be found growing in light shade, it makes a much more attractive and larger specimen in full sun. In our garden, Verbesina olsenii reaches the size of a small dogwood, before it dies back to the ground each winter. Although it pains garden neat freaks, I prefer allowing the dried tan stalks to stand through the winter until frozen precipitation renders them unsightly…they’re really great structurally, and of course are perfect for decorating with Christmas lights. Assembling a well-designed garden is a lot like assembling a basketball team…a few taller members create a much more effective and balanced team.
I hope this prompts you to explore the amazing world of wild gingers.
– Tony Avent