Until a few years ago I'd been a bit prejudiced against the sunflower group because many have them are rather weedy and coarse, albeit bringing a cheerful splash of bright yellow to the late summer and autumn garden. Lately though I've come to appreciate some of them for their bold foliage and well-formed flowers - the bigger Silphiums are an obvious example - but then I discovered this hardy Smallanthus and I was just blown away.
![Smallanthus uvedalius](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53254881821_6e69565664_b.jpg)
This magnificent species originally came from Tom Mitchell and I understand he collected it in the north-eastern USA himself. It's very tall, with broad-lobed leaves on the arching stems, and good- quality soft yellow flowers in autumn. The overall effect is huge and luxuriant and not at all ugly. It doesn't spread at the roots at all but produces a compact tuberous rootstock.
![Smallanthus uvedalius](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53255171798_837a31b940_b.jpg)
Fully hardy and easy to grow even in dry and poor soils - highly recommended.
£15
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