Trollius europaeus (common globeflower, "Seiyokinbaiso")

Japanese name: セイヨウキンバイソウ （西洋金梅草）
Scientific name: Trollius europaeus

[Overview]
A perennial up to 60 cm tall, growing in its native range in damp grasslands, forests and along streams.
The stem is erect.
There are basal leaves and leaves alternate on the stem; the basal leaves are deeply palmately divided into 3–5 lobes, the lobes are toothed, and the petioles are long.
The stem leaves are small, usually palmately 3-lobed, and stalkless.
The leaf margins are toothed.
The flowers do not open fully but form yellow globes 2.5–5 cm across, usually solitary at the stem tip, though sometimes 2–3 are borne upward in a cyme-like arrangement.
Each flower has 5–15 petal-like sepals.
The true petals are about as long as the stamens and inconspicuous.
The fruits are follicles gathered in a globe; when ripe they stand erect, and the styles are also erect.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It suits cool regions and prefers moist, fertile soil; it dislikes summer heat and dry soil.
It grows in sun to partial shade, preferably where it does not get the afternoon sun, and strong direct summer sun may scorch the leaves.
Keep it cool in bright shade in summer.
Take care that it does not dry out, and water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
If base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizer is particularly needed.
If the plant weakens in summer, cut it back to ground level at that point.
Powdery mildew can occur.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)