What a splendid specimen, Rouge. This season is a repeat foray into LQ love: it remains to be seen how well it can cope in my garden...but it is such a lovely and iconic autumn plant that I had to have another go. Currently peering out from under a massive tree paeony, it is tall but not yet bushy enough to make much of a display.

I fear the culver's root is destined for the compost (unless I can persuade one of the offspring to have it...or possibly one of my rare customers.

I am really giving up on the tall autumnal daisies and considering mulleins (verbascums) for an imposing presence and shot of late summer gold. Although most of them flower earlier in the year, there are a few which save themselves till August...and they do tend to be the larger, multi-stemmed Greek mulleins with huge felted leaves.

Any other ideas for taller, imposing plants which don't occupy too much ground-space?

Looking good, Rouge!!! My LQ had been looking a little less than glorious, as it was splaying in the center from all the heavy rains we’ve been getting. But I wrapped some twine around it, and mine is back to looking good as well. I love this perennial!

That is a crazy beautiful LQ specimen @lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan!

(Behind it is your home? If so, doesn't that tall wide stand of LQ block your garden view when you are looking from the window?)

Thanks, Rouge! Yes, that’s my house in the photo…there’s a fairly wide yew shrub between LQ and the house, so the window isn’t as blocked as it appears. Besides, we like seeing LQ as we walk down the main hall in our house, and I have other windows from which I can spy on my neighbors. 🤣

Do either of you have to give support to these tall plants?

@prairiemoon2 z6b MA I have never supported this stand of LQ. In my experience they are quite sturdy.

@prairiemoon2 z6b MA, my LQ has only been in the ground for two years, but my experience thus far is similar to rouge’s. The stems are very sturdy! However, we’ve had a rainy summer like no other here in SE Michigan, and I did have to wrap twine around LQ, as some of the stems were splaying out a bit. Just one length, wrapped around the perimeter, about halfway up the plant, did the trick.

Wow, that's great to have it so tall and not need support! and @lovemycorgi yes, we've had that rainy season like no other as well and I'm looking at the forecast this morning and the next 7 days we have more rain forecast. Sounds like you found an easy fix. Thanks. Both your gardens look great!

Wow, these Lemon Queen look fabulous!

That is a big patch, Peren.all!! It looks happy there.

That's a ridiculously ie so nice, large stand of LQ 'peren'!

But I have a question. From experience, my stand of LQ, to look its best, needs consistent rain earlier in the season, otherwise, like last year, when it was dry, it will be stunted. As I recall your area was dry earlier this summer and yet it looks great now.

Yes pm, I probably did not need to put in three lol!

Thanks rouge. It has been an incredibly dry & hot summer for the 3rd year in a row. No rain in May/June, some in July but not nearly enough then none in Aug./Sept. so far. The rain we were supposed to get this week never came. We may get a paltry 5mm tomorrow but I won't hold my breath. At this point I will take whatever I get. I have not watered the garden in decades so my plants have gotten tough. They have to be. My well has never run dry but I dare not take the chance.

rp I do hope LQ does well for you. Have you ever tried Vernonia? My V. crinita 'Mammuth' (I have a few) are about 8' tall and don't take up much ground-space. I adore Persicaria polymorpha but it takes up a lot of space.

Peren.all - No, I didn't think they were TOO big!! I love the effect and envious of the room you have to do that. Of course, not envious of the amount of work that has to require. [g] It looks wonderful!

It sounds like you are having the kind of weather I had last year. You would never know it, your garden looks 100% better than mine did last year.

Interesting post 'jeb'.

I am the OP. And the stand you see in the 2 pictures is over 10 years old. For sure the original plant has gotten larger but only as radiating from the centre clump. That is I have never seen signs of LQ anywhere else in the vicinity outside of this original plant. Based on this experience I have no worries of it "taking over".