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Herbaceous Perennial

Ligularia dentata

leopard plant

An herbaceous perennial up to 1.2m high with dark green heart-shaped leaves on crimson stalks. Crimson-stemmed, brown-centred bright orange-yellow flowerheads appear from midsummer to early autumn

Synonyms

Ligularia clivorum

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Ligularia are robust herbaceous perennials, with large, often attractively lobed leaves and yellow or orange, daisy-like flower-heads in terminal racemes or branching clusters
Name status: Correct
Plant range: China to Vietnam

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in sun or partial shade in rich, moist or boggy soil, in a position sheltered from strong drying winds; good for waterside planting or in dappled shade in a woodland garden

Propagation

Propagate by seed in autumn or spring, or by division in spring or after flowering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required, but can cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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