Magnificent elecampane

Family Asteraceae. In the wild it grows only in the subalpine belt of the Caucasus.

It is aptly named. This majestic, powerful, spreading plant reaches up to 2 m in height, with a thick grooved stem. A true perennial. Basal and lower stem leaves are large, oblong-elliptic, up to 50 cm long and 25 cm wide, narrowing at the base and passing into a petiole 30-60 cm long. Upper leaves are sessile and smaller than the lower ones. Flower heads are yellow, up to 15 cm in diameter, on long flower stalks up to 25 cm, solitary or 2-4 in sparse corymbs. It flowers in July-August, profusely. Seeds ripen in August-September. After flowering the leaves yellow, and the plant loses its decorative value, so it is better to cut it back.