Also known as Leopard Plant · 49 gardener saves

Farfugium: the varieties gardeners actually grow

Farfugium, the genus most gardeners know as leopard plant. We track 15 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.

15 varietiesZones 6–10Shade friendly

The 12 most-saved Farfugium varieties

Of 15 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.

#1 most saved

Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Marco'

Zones 7–10· 8 saves· from $27

#2 most saved

Japanese Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Lunar Landing'

Zones 7–10· 6 saves

#3 most saved

Shishi Botan Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Shishi Botan'

Zones 7–10· 5 saves· from $15

Japanese Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Basho Ogi'

Zones 7–10· 5 saves

Japanese Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum

Zones 7–10· 5 saves

Japanese Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Kaimon Dake'

Zones 7–10· 4 saves· from $30

Silver Leaf Fogplant

Farfugium japonicum 'Argentum'

Zones 6–9· 3 saves

Japanese Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Kin Kan'

Zones 7–10· 3 saves

Giant Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'giganteum Marco'

Zones 7–10· 3 saves

Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Bad Hair Day'

Zones 7–10· 2 saves

Crested Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Ryuto'

Zones 7–10· 2 saves

Double-flowered Leopard Plant

Farfugium japonicum 'Yaezaki'

Zones 7–10· 2 saves

Browse all 15 Farfugium varieties →

How to grow Farfugium

What the Farfugium varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 15 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.

The Farfugium year

Spring CleanupFebruary and March100% of varieties
Remove any tattered or winter-damaged foliage before new growth begins
Check for PestsApril–August80% of varieties
Monitor for slugs and snails, especially in moist conditions
FertilizeMarch67% of varieties
Apply a light, balanced fertilizer as new growth emerges
DivideMarch and September60% of varieties
Divide large clumps every 3-5 years in spring or early fall
MulchMarch and October47% of varieties
Refresh mulch to maintain soil moisture and keep roots cool

Do

Water regularly to keep soil moist 🌱
Water regularly to keep soil moist 💧
Mulch to conserve moisture
Apply mulch to conserve moisture
Divide every 2-3 years to maintain vigor

Avoid

Do not let soil dry out completely
Refrain from over-fertilizing
Don’t let soil dry out completely
Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils

What goes wrong with Farfugium

Problem	What you'll see	What to do
Aphids	Sticky residue and distorted leaves	Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil
Slugs	Chewed leaf edges	Handpick or set beer traps
Root rot	Wilting and yellowing leaves	Improve drainage and reduce watering; use fungicide if needed
Root rot	Wilting and browning of foliage	Improve drainage and reduce watering
Powdery mildew	White powder on leaves	Improve air circulation and apply fungicide
Leaf spot	Dark spots on leaves	Remove affected foliage and apply appropriate fungicide

Making more Farfugium

Division

Dig up mature clump in early spring
Separate into smaller sections with roots intact
Plant divisions at same depth in prepared soil
Water thoroughly after planting
Allow 6 weeks to establish

Cuttings

Take 4-6 inch cuttings in early summer
Remove lower leaves and dip in rooting hormone
Plant in moist, well-drained soil
Maintain humidity with plastic cover
Root in 4-6 weeks

Farfugium questions

How many types of Farfugium are there?

The Sow catalog tracks 15 distinct Farfugium varieties. The most popular — ranked by 49 real gardener saves — are shown first above.

What zones does Farfugium grow in?

Across its varieties, Farfugium covers USDA Zones 6–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.

When does Farfugium bloom?

Most Farfugium varieties bloom in late summer to fall, fall, late fall. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.

Which Farfugium should I choose?

Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.

Keep exploring

Farfugium shows up in

By hardiness zone

Related genera

Design with Farfugium in your own yard

Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.