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BogsHerbaceous Perennial

Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona'

leopard plant 'Desdemona'

'Desdemona' is a robust herbaceous perennial to 1m in height, with large rounded bronze-tinted leaves, deep purple beneath. Orange daisies 10cm in width, are borne in flat-topped clusters in late summer and early autumn

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–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: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun but with some shelter from midday sun. Protect from strong drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or after flowering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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