Leopard Plant

Leopard Plant (Ligularia dentata 'Pandora') is grown for its leaves, not its flowers. It forms a tight mound about 50cm tall and 50cm across, built from almost circular leaves in deep bronze purple that look lacquered after rain. Orange and yellow daisy flowers follow in late summer, but the foliage is the reason to buy it, and few plants bring that contrast to a damp, shaded bed.

Why you'll love it

• Dark foliage that lifts a shady bed. Rounded bronze purple leaves give shade planting the contrast that green on green schemes lack.
• Compact and tidy. At 50cm by 50cm it fits the front of a border or a pot without dominating.
• It likes wet feet. Damp low spots and pond edges that rot other perennials are where this one performs.
• Frost hardy and humidity tolerant. It handles cold southern winters and muggy summers without losing its shape.
• Late season flowers. The orange and yellow heads bring bees and butterflies in as the rest of the garden winds down.

Where it works best

Shaded borders and edging. Plant 40cm apart along the front of a bed under trees or on the south side of a fence. At that spacing the leaves overlap into a continuous dark band.

Mass planting in damp ground. Use the same 40cm spacing through a low spot or a pond surround. Ground that stays moist is an advantage here.

Pots and feature planting. One clump in a wide glazed pot works hard in a shaded courtyard, provided the mix stays moist.

Growing Leopard Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade, ideally morning sun with afternoon protection. This is a cool temperate and warm temperate plant. It is not suited to hot arid inland gardens or the humid tropics, where the leaves scorch and the crown struggles. Be realistic: it wants a cool, sheltered, moist position, not an open sunny bed.

Soil. Rich, heavy and moisture retentive. Work compost or aged manure through the bed before planting and mulch 50mm deep to keep the root zone cool.

Water and feed. This is a high water plant. Keep the soil damp at all times, especially through the first two summers. A liquid feed monthly from spring to late summer keeps the leaf colour deep.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems at the base and pull off any scorched or chewed leaves. Cut the whole clump back if it tires in late winter, and divide congested plants every three or four years.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a single size, sold as tube stock, and currently supplied on backorder rather than off the shelf. A tube is a young plant with a handful of leaves and a small crown. It is not a full mound on day one, and it takes a growing season to look like the photograph.

Tubes are compact and travel well. Keep the water up after planting and expect new leaves within three to four weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Worth knowing: Ligularia foliage contains alkaloids, so this is not one for a garden where a dog or cat grazes.

Plant care guides and related reading

• What to plant in wet and waterlogged ground
• Browse plants for partial shade
• Choosing plants for a full shade area
• Shop the full shade range

Common questions

Why does it wilt in the middle of the day?

Large soft leaves lose water faster than the roots can replace it, so midday flagging is common even when the soil is damp. If it recovers by evening the plant is fine. If it stays limp overnight, water deeply and move it somewhere shadier.

Is it safe for pets?

No. The foliage contains alkaloids that can upset cats and dogs if eaten, so choose something else if you have a pet that chews plants.

How far apart should I plant it?

Forty centimetres apart. Each clump reaches about 50cm across, so at that distance the leaves just meet and the soil below stays shaded and cool.