Leopard Plant Little Golden Ray

Leopard Plant 'Little Golden Ray' (Ligularia dentata 'Little Golden Ray') is a dwarf perennial for the damp, shaded parts of the garden that defeat most plants. It makes a rounded clump about 60cm each way of large, leathery, dark leaves, then lifts golden yellow and orange daisy flowers above them in summer. Where light is low and the ground stays damp, it is one of the few plants that looks better for it.

Why you'll love it

• Bold foliage in shade. Broad rounded leaves give weight to a shaded bed where most shade plants are fine and ferny.
• Wet feet are welcome. It tolerates soil that stays moist, so pond edges, downpipe beds and low spots all suit it.
• Bright summer flowers. Golden yellow to orange daisies on upright stems, held clear of the leaves and busy with bees.
• Compact enough for small gardens. A dwarf selection, so it fits a courtyard bed or a pot rather than swallowing them.

Where it works best

Shaded borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart along a shaded path or the front of a damp bed. At that spacing the leaves overlap slightly and read as one continuous band of foliage.

Mass planting in moist shade. Under trees, beside a pond or in a bed that collects runoff, a drift at 50cm spacing covers ground that would otherwise stay bare.

Pots and small gardens. A 300mm or larger pot works, provided you are realistic about watering, because a potted leopard plant dries out fast.

Growing Leopard Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to full shade, with morning sun at most. This is a cool temperate and warm temperate plant, frost hardy in cold southern gardens and tolerant of humidity, but no use in hot dry inland sun or tropical heat. In warmer gardens, use the coolest corner you have.

Soil. Rich, heavy and moisture retentive is ideal. Dig compost through before planting and mulch 50mm deep to hold water where the roots sit.

Water and feed. This is a high water plant and the one thing it will not forgive is drying out. It wilts dramatically, and while it usually recovers after a soak, repeated wilting sets it back. Water two or three times a week in summer heat and feed with a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems at the base once the display finishes and remove yellowing leaves as they appear. Lift and divide congested clumps every three or four years in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock and in 200mm pots in packs of six. Tubes carry two or three leaves on a good root system and take a full season to build the clump. The 200mm plants are established and give an immediate result, which makes the pack of six the practical choice for a border.

Leaves can look tired after transit and may need trimming off. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Water on arrival and again the day you plant. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse other plants for full shade.
• Read our guide to gardening in shade.
• Compare companions in plants that like plenty of water.
• Working with a waterlogged garden bed.

Common questions

Why does it wilt every afternoon?

Almost always dryness at the roots, sometimes too much direct sun. Give it a deep soak, move it into deeper shade if you can, and mulch to hold moisture. Plants that wilt daily will not thrive.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a 300mm or larger pot in shade, with quality mix and consistent watering. Pots dry much faster than garden beds, so this suits a gardener who waters regularly.

Does it die back in winter?

In cold gardens the foliage tires and the clump looks sparse, then reshoots strongly in spring. In milder gardens it usually holds its leaves right through.