Patrinia

Patrinia

Patrinia gibbosa
A perennial, reaching up to 2.5 feet in height, that is native to Japan.
The pinnate leaves, up to 6 inches in length, are glossy green.
The tiny yellow flowers are borne on clusters up to 4 inches across, during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade ( full sun if consistently moist ) on moist, humus-rich, well drained soil.

Patrinia scabiosifolia
A long-lived perennial, reaching a maximum size of 7 x 3 feet, that is native from Mongolia to Siberia and far east Russia; south through most of China, Korea and Japan.
The elliptical leaves, up to 4 x 1.2 inches in size, resemble that of Scabiosa. The deep green foliage turns glowing scarlet-red during autumn.
The yellow flowers are borne late summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil. Heat and drought tolerant. Unfortunately, it is an alternate host for Daylily Rust.
The deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant.

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on July 11 2014

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014