Inula ensifolia

Inula ensifolia, also known as the Sword Leaved Inula, is a compact perennial plant that forms a dense almost hemispherical tuft. Its foliage is unique, with narrow, stiff and leathery leaves that are deeply cut, and a beautiful dark green colour. It is covered throughout the summer with an abundance of daisy-like flowers, golden yellow with an orange centre, very bright. It is a low-growing plant, ideal for borders, slopes and rockeries.

Inula ensifolia belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is native to the Caucasus. It is a rhizomatous and deciduous perennial plant, with a dense habit, forming a dome about 30cm (12in) in all directions. It blooms from June to August. The plant then transforms into a cheerful and bright cushion, almost disappearing under flowers gathered in heads measuring 2 to 3cm (1in) in diameter, with thin golden yellow and radiating ligules surrounding a fairly wide, orange disk. They are carried by slender stems, just above the foliage. The leaves measure 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long, they are elongated, non-petiolate, with a very acute tip, the colour is dark greenish grey and the edges are finely hairy. The way they overlap gives a very striking aspect to this plant. The storage organ is a non-running rhizome.

Sword Leaved Inula is a vigorous, adaptable and very cheerful plant that is not used enough in gardens. However, it adapts everywhere as long as the soil is not too dry. In the middle of summer, in the rockery, it keeps company with coreopsis, sun roses, scabiosa, knautia or yarrow, which all bloom at the same time. Inula ensifolia has been in our rock garden for many years, along with dwarf phlox, as well as in our grass garden, alongside a small dwarf pennisetum.