Green leopard plant, usually sold simply as leopard plant, is an evergreen perennial from East Asia grown in Southern shade gardens for its big, glossy, kidney-shaped leaves and its daisy-like yellow flowers in fall and early winter. It grows wild on seashores and streamsides in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan and isn't native to the US. It's also called tractor seat plant for its round, shiny leaves.
Appearance
- Growth form
- An evergreen, clump-forming perennial about 1–3 ft (30–90 cm) tall in gardens.
- Leaves
- Leathery, glossy, kidney-shaped leaves up to about 12 in (30 cm) across rise on long stalks from the base. Leaves die back when temperatures drop below 20°F (−7°C).
- Flowers
- Bright yellow, daisy-like flowers 1–2 in (2.5–5 cm) across, in loose clusters held above the leaves.
- Flowering time
- Fall to early winter
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Shade gardens
- Woodland gardens
- Pond edges
- Range
- Native to rocky seashores and streambanks in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. In the US it's a garden plant, best suited to the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of the Southeast.
- Preferred conditions
- Partial to full shade with rich, steadily moist soil; too much sun scorches the leaves. Hardy in USDA zones 7–9.
Growing it
- Care
- Divide clumps in spring or sow seed in winter. Deer usually leave it alone; slugs and snails are the main pests.
- Propagation
- By division or seed.
- Toxicity
- Contains , plant toxins linked to tumors. It's an ornamental, not a food plant.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Older garden books list it as Ligularia tussilaginea or Ligularia kaempferi.
- Varieties and forms
- Gold-spotted 'Aureomaculatum' is the classic "leopard" look. A very large-leaved form, 'Giganteum' (var. giganteum), is also grown.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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