(aka: Senecio aureus A1OH-053) Packera aurea ‘Dark Shadows’ is a special Plant Delights Nursery selection of the North American evergreen native we spotted when botanizing in 2008 with the late Vivien Phillips on her property in Yancey County, NC. The dark new growth stood out from all the other plants. The new beesia-shaped, plastic-like, narrowly scalloped foliage emerges chocolate-purple before changing to green. Packera aurea ‘Dark Shadows’ begins to spike in late March (NC) as it morphs first into an 18″ tall spike of dark purple buds, and then to a mass of brilliant yellow daisies. Packera aurea will produce seedlings without the special coloration, so a little snip after flowering will prevent unwanted dependents. Average to slightly moist soil is best.
