Thank you, John!

My plant did bloom pink this Spring rather than white and it doesn't seem to spread very fast. My confusion has come from Sunset magazine. They must have switched the illustrations. They show Darmera having serrated leaves like a Gunnera and Petasites having shield like leaves. Copyright 2001. Looks like I need a later copy.

Looks like Darmera is the better plant for me. I'm happy.

Again, thanks.

Mike

Apart from the different flowers and leaf structures Petasites also do not have the nice autumn color of Darmera, which is starting to be seen on your plant. Darmera is, along with Paeonia one of a comparative minority of hardy herbaceous perennials that produces a consistently noticeable and reddish fall display.

Right on, Ron. I just took a picture of a Tree Peony yesterday.

Mike

Except that kind of peony is woody, of course.

There's quite a number of perennials that develop good fall color in addition to those listed - bowman's root (Porteranthus trifoliata), epimediums, bergenia, Mukdenia rossii, blue star (Amsonia hubrechtii), Geranium sanguineum (and various other species; also the cultivar 'Gerwat'/Rosanne), also some euphorbias. And leadwort, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides. And of course, ornamental grasses, if you consider them as a perennial :-))

My fothergillas are just starting to show a beautiful vermilion as are some of the hydrangeas. Will take some pics if the wind does not blow off all the foliage in the garden tonight. Guess these are both shrubs and perennials.