About
Ligularia stenocephala, the narrow-headed leopard plant, is a deciduous, clump-forming perennial to 1.2 m with jaggedly toothed, triangular leaves to 20 cm long and slender spires of small, yellow flowers on dark-purple stems in mid and late summer. An elegant and dramatic perennial for a moist, sheltered border or streamside.
About the genus
Ligularia are robust, herbaceous perennials with large, often attractively lobed leaves and yellow or orange, daisy-like flowerheads in terminal racemes or branching clusters in summer and autumn. Excellent plants for moist, sheltered borders and streamside plantings.
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toChina Taiwan Japan
Care notes
CultivationGrow in rich, moist soil in part-shade; a more open position is tolerated if the soil is reliably moist
PruningCut down old flower stems after flowering is finished
PropagationPropagate by seed in containers outdoors in autumn or spring or divide in spring after flowering
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free