Species leopard plant
Yellow flowers with brown center and yellow-brown anthers.

leopard plant

Ligularia dentata

The leopard plant (Ligularia dentata) is an exotic-looking perennial with large, ruffled leaves. Depending on the variety, its deep-green foliage is patterned with splashes of bold yellow or purple. Its large, daisy-like blooms appear in late summer, and are usually yellow, orange, or brown. This hardy plant prefers full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Although it is easy to look after, it can be susceptible to diseases caused by too much water. The leopard plant is perfect for adding color and texture to the edge of a shady garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers In Summer

Sun:

Filtered shade, Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade

Soil:

Humus rich

Fruits:

brown Fruits In Summer Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

bronze,green,purple

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Leopard plant should be watered once a week with approximately 2 cups of water each time. The soil should be kept moist but not overly saturated. During warm weather, watering twice a week may be necessary. If the leaves begin to wilt, this indicates that the plant needs more water. When possible, use warm aged rain or bottled water instead of tap water. Leopard plants enjoy humidity, so misting will keep the leaves vibrant.

sunlight

Leopard plant (Ligularia dentata) needs full to partial sunlight for optimal growth. The sunlight should be 4 to 6 hours long each day. Too much sunlight may cause the leaves to become faded or scorched. Too little sunlight may cause the leaves to be a paler color and becoming sparse. To ensure that the leopard plant remains healthy, it is important to find a happy medium. The plant should receive some morning sunlight, with some shade during peak midday hours.

pruning

The leopard plant benefits from pruning to encourage healthy and bushy growth. Prune the leopard plant in late spring, just after flowering for the best results. Start by removing dead, damaged, or unhealthy branches. Snip off withered or damaged leaves as needed. Then, cut back the larger branches by 1-third to 1-half their original length. This will help promote more bushiness and encourage new blooms. Light trimming throughout the rest of the growing season will help keep your leopard plant neat and compact while encouraging more leaves and flowers.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Ligularia dentata typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Starts Flowering

Leopard plants typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Leopard plants typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Ligularia dentata typically begins in late summer, usually in August or September.

Hardiness Map