3 named cultivars

perennial

Bigleaf Ligularia

The Story

Plant Bio

Ligularia dentata, or leopard plant, is a bold clump-forming perennial from China and Japan, standing three to four feet high and two to three across. Large rounded leaves with toothed margins, often purple beneath, make the main display. Loose flat heads of orange-yellow daisies open above them in June and July on dark stems.

The foliage droops dramatically on hot afternoons even when the soil is wet, recovering overnight; it is alarming the first time and does not mean the plant needs more water. What it does need is genuine shade and soil that never dries, so site it on the north side of a building or beside water rather than trying to irrigate it through sun.

Uses & Benefits:

Large rounded leaves, often purple-backed, with orange-yellow daisies on dark stems in early summer.

One of the few genuinely bold foliage plants for wet shade, where most large perennials fail.

Midsummer flowers draw butterflies and bees to shaded, damp corners that carry little other nectar.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

40 inches

Width

30 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

High

Humidity

High

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

China and Japan

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in part to full shade.
Choose deep, humus-rich soil that stays moist to wet.
Set the crown level with the surrounding soil.
Water deeply and regularly through the first summers.
Mulch thickly each spring to hold moisture.
Cut spent flower stems back after bloom.

Pro Tip

Afternoon wilting in heat is normal and self-correcting; treat it as a siting problem, not a watering one.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Keep the soil moist to wet at all times 💧
Site it in part to full shade 🌳
Mulch deeply each spring 🍂
Use it beside ponds and streams 🪷

Don't

Plant it in full sun or dry ground ❌
Panic-water when the leaves droop in heat ❌
Leave slug damage unchecked on young growth ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Mulch
Water

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Pond, stream and bog garden marginBold foliage accent in a shaded borderNorth-facing planting beside a building

Companion Plants

Astilbe Hosta RodgersiaSiberian Iris Japanese Painted Fern

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Bigleaf Ligularia questions

What zones can Bigleaf Ligularia grow in?

Bigleaf Ligularia is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Bigleaf Ligularia deer resistant?

Yes — Bigleaf Ligularia is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Bigleaf Ligularia bloom?

Bigleaf Ligularia typically blooms in early to midsummer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Bigleaf Ligularia need full sun?

Bigleaf Ligularia does best in part shade.