Petasites japonica 'Moonfire' EXCLUSIVE FIRST WORLD RELEASE!! RARE!!!

Petasites japonica 'Moonfire' ('Moonfire' Japanese Coltsfoot) is an herbaceous, low growing perennial with round, golden leaves during the summer and a ball of yellow flowers in late winter before leaves emerge.  We are THRILLED be be allowed to introduce this exciting new discovery from Dan Heims - avid plant collector and creator of Terra Nova Nursery in Oregon!  I first saw this plant growing in Dan's garden just south of Portlant, Oregon the summer of 2023  My first thoughts were "WOW - what in the World is this?"  and my second thought was "how can I get some of it!"  The colony was growing in full sun, was only a few inches tall, and was a solid, weed suppressing matt and was one of the most amazing plants I've ever seen!  Thankfully Dan allowed me to return in early January 2025 and dig up about half of his clump - which I took home, divided and potted.  This will be the FIRST EVER, EXCLUSIVE WORLD RELEASE of this stunning plant.  We have not yet planted it in our garden here so the only information we have is from the original colony in Dan's Oregon garden.  I suspect like other Petasites, it will be best in moist soil  (wet OK) and will likely perform poorly in a dry site.  Petasites have a reputation for being extremely fast spreading (by underground runners) but, so far, the plant at Dan's has moved about 12 inches per year.  I suspect it will be faster in a warm, wet climate, so plant in an area that it can have some space if it decides to romp around.  I've seen many large plantings of Petasites and they look nothing like 'Moonfire'  This is a gold variegated, low growing cultivar and would be STUNNING planted with Japanese Iris or larger growing ferns.  In Oregon Petasites japonica 'Moonfire' was planted in full sun - I suspect a little shade in the SE USA would be a good idea.  Following is Dan's description of this amazing new plant introduction:

"Discovered by Dan Heims in a small, Japanese variegated plant nursery was this new cultivar of Japanese Coltsfoot.  Surprised by its twelve inch wide leaves, liberally splashed with true gold variegation and additionally it retains a compact habit compared to her giant sisters.  Seen in the pictures is a five year old clump grown in clay soil.  The clump is approximately four feet across in five years from a four inch pot. Plants are happiest in full sun (in Oregon) and planted in lean, mucky soil.  This plant begins its growth with yellow green flowers in January (in Oregon) which emerge until March.  It is so different than the huge leave forms as it has true golden variegation as to opposed to the virally blotched 'Nishiki-buki'.  Leaves are much smaller than the standard Petasites japonica forms and it can take constant moisture and clay soil and could be used as a marginal, if not submerged, plant.  The mother plant lives in the ground next to a paved driveway and seems to handle excess heat.  Being from Japan and happy in Tokyo points to tolerance of heat and humidity.  Be the first to own this tamer version of Japanese Coltsfoot.  Try it in a container with Papyrus for a great combo or by a pond, or simply in your garden."  RARE AND WORLD EXCLUSIVE RELEASE!!!  LIMITED SUPPLY