The most dramatic and immediately apparent difference between these two cultivars lies in their foliage. Ligularia 'The Rocket' features large, sharply toothed, heart-shaped or triangular leaves that are a deep, standard green color. The primary ornamental feature of this plant is its impressive floral display, with the foliage acting as a substantial green backdrop.
In stark contrast, Ligularia 'Britt Marie Crawford' is almost exclusively grown for its breathtaking foliage. Its leaves are large, rounded, and kidney-shaped. Their color is a profound, shimmering blackish-purple or chocolate-brown on the upper surface, creating a stunning visual impact in shady garden spaces. The underside of the leaf is a rich maroon or beetroot purple, adding to its ornamental value. This deep pigmentation is due to a higher concentration of anthocyanins, which also helps protect the plant from intense sunlight.
Both cultivars produce the classic Ligularia flower type: tall, branching spikes of daisy-like flowers. However, their structure and presentation differ. 'The Rocket' is named for its spectacular flower spikes that can reach 5-6 feet (150-180 cm) in height. These rockets of bright, golden-yellow flowers shoot up high above the green foliage, creating a bold and architectural display in mid to late summer.
'Britt Marie Crawford' also produces flower spikes, but they are generally shorter, typically reaching 3-4 feet (90-120 cm). The flowers themselves are a similar bright golden-yellow, but their visual effect is different. They provide a brilliant and cheerful contrast against the dark, dramatic foliage rather than being the sole primary focus. The dark flower stalks often blend more seamlessly with the dark leaves, making the yellow blooms appear to float above the foliar mound.
The growth habit of these two plants further distinguishes them. Ligularia 'The Rocket' forms a large, upright, and clump-forming mound of green leaves. Its overall form is more vertical and open, with the towering flower scapes being the dominant vertical element. The plant has a strong, architectural presence in the border.
'Britt Marie Crawford' has a lower, more mounding, and densely clumping habit. The plant forms a robust basal clump of those large, dark leaves that can spread outwards. Its structure is less about soaring height and more about creating a substantial, colorful mound of foliage from which the flower spikes emerge. This makes it an excellent mid-border plant for providing bold color and texture.
Both cultivars share the fundamental cultural needs of the Ligularia genus: they require consistently moist, humus-rich soil and thrive in partial to full shade. Their large leaves cause them to wilt dramatically if their soil dries out, a clear physiological signal of their need for water.
A key difference in their requirements stems from their leaf coloration. The deep pigments in 'Britt Marie Crawford's leaves offer some protection against sun scorch. While it still prefers shade, it can tolerate a bit more morning sun than 'The Rocket' without its foliage burning, as the anthocyanins help filter the stronger light. In terms of vigor, 'The Rocket' is generally considered a very strong and fast-growing plant once established. 'Britt Marie Crawford' is also vigorous but may be slightly slower to establish its impressive clump due to the energy required to produce its highly pigmented foliage.
